What Does Refactoring Code Mean? What New Developers Need To Know

So you've heard about it before, but you're wondering, "What does refactoring code mean?". Refactoring code is the process of restructuring existing computer code without altering its external behavior. It's an important part of software development because it helps keep a codebase organized, maintainable, and less error-prone over time. Refactoring code can also make it easier to add new features or fix bugs in the future. There are benefits and drawbacks to refactoring code, but despite any of the risks, refactoring is an essential part of keeping your codebase healthy.

In this guide for aspiring software engineers, I'll share my thoughts on the proper way to refactor code, offer best practices for ensuring success, and explore when to start refactoring your code. By the end of this guide, I hope that you'll have a better understanding of how to refactor code for long-term success.

Benefits of Refactoring Code

Refactoring code has numerous benefits that outweigh its drawbacks when done properly. It can lead to improved readability, maintainability, and extensibility of the codebase. Refactored code is typically much easier to understand and follow than its original version -- which makes sense if you consider we're going to take the time to improve it while we're in there. By breaking down large chunks of code into smaller, more manageable parts, it becomes easier to maintain and extend as time goes on.

Improved Readability

When refactoring code, we break down large and complex code blocks into smaller, more manageable blocks. This often leads to improved readability, as the code becomes easier to read and follow. Refactored code is often more concise and straightforward, which makes it easier for developers to understand what is happening at any given point in the code. If you consider how much time we spend reading code vs writing code, then you'll know that there's a great deal of value in readable code.

Maintenance and Extensibility

Refactored code is much easier to maintain and extend, as it's often better organized and more modular. This makes it easier to add new features or fix bugs in the codebase without introducing new issues. Refactored code is also more scalable than its original version, which means that it can be extended to meet new requirements as needed.

Of course, you need to be refactoring code with these goals in mind. If you refactor code to simplify renaming and readability as a priority, you will not necessarily introduce more flexible code.

Drawbacks of Refactoring Code

There are also some drawbacks of refactoring code. One of the main issues is the potential introduction of bugs, which can happen if the refactoring is not done correctly. This is especially likely if the area of code is brittle to begin with and has low test coverage. Another issue is that refactoring can be a time-consuming process, especially when the codebase is quite large. Developers must weigh the benefits and drawbacks of refactoring when deciding whether or not to refactor code.

Despite the potential drawbacks, we must remember that the long-term benefits of refactoring code often outweigh the short-term costs. By investing time and effort into properly refactoring our code, we create a more stable and maintainable codebase that is much easier to work with. As with any software engineering practice, there are pros and cons to refactoring code, but in most cases, the benefits make it a worthwhile practice. Without refactoring, we'd be faced with eventually abandoning code altogether or rewriting it from scratch.

Potential Introduction of Bugs

One of the main drawbacks of refactoring code is the potential introduction of bugs. When code is refactored, it can be easy to introduce new bugs if the process is not done correctly. This can lead to issues down the line and cause unnecessary headaches for developers and their teams.

Time Constraints

Refactoring code can be a time-consuming process, especially if the codebase is large and complex. Developers must weigh the benefits of refactoring against the time it takes to do so. While refactoring can be time-consuming, it's often worth the investment in the long run. Properly refactored code is typically much easier to maintain and extend in the future, which can save time over the long term.

Given that often refactoring can be done incrementally, I highly advise leaning into this. Set some goals upfront for your refactoring. Identify some milestones. If you additionally layer in an element of time-boxing, you can pull the metaphorical ripcord early as needed so you don't go off the rails refactoring.