Cover image for A Guide to Coding Standards to Improve Code Quality

A Guide to Coding Standards to Improve Code Quality

Suraj Vishwakarma

25 Mar, 2025


Introduction

Writing code is easy, but writing clean, readable, and maintainable code is a different story. When you're coding solo, it's tempting to skip standards since you're the only one managing it. But whether you're working alone or in a team, following coding standards is crucial for long-term success.

Coding standards are a set of best practices and guidelines that ensure your code is consistent, understandable, and easy to maintain. They improve readability and make it easier for other developers to collaborate on the same codebase. In this article, I'll walk you through essential coding standards every developer—especially web developers—should follow.

Let’s dive in!


Indentation and Formatting

Consistent indentation and formatting make your code more readable and easier to maintain. Well-structured code helps other developers understand and contribute to your project quickly.

Tips for Better Formatting:

Readable code reduces mental overhead and allows teams to collaborate efficiently.


Naming Conventions

Naming Convention

Choosing meaningful and consistent naming conventions is one of the hardest yet most valuable practices in software development. Good names communicate intent and purpose without requiring additional explanation.

Common Naming Styles:

Camel Case (Common in JavaScript)

Variables / Functions Classes
myVariable MyClass

Snake Case (Often used in Python)

Variables / Functions Classes
my_variable my_class

Upper Case (Constants)

Constants
MY_CONSTANT_VALUE

Best Practices:


Comments and Documentation

Commenting and documentation are vital for making your code understandable—both for your future self and other developers.

Best Practices for Comments:

Helpful Tools:


Error Handling

Error Handling

Errors and exceptions are inevitable in software development. How you handle errors determines the stability and reliability of your application.

Best Practices for Error Handling:

For example, when making an API request, gracefully handle both success and error responses. Notify the user if something fails, and log the issue for troubleshooting.


Testing Your Application

Testing Application

Testing ensures your application works as expected before releasing it into production. Comprehensive testing helps prevent bugs and improves user trust.

Best Practices for Testing:

Testing Techniques:


Security Best Practices

Security

Security should be a priority throughout your development process. Follow secure coding practices to protect your application and its data.

Key Security Guidelines:


Conclusion

Implementing these coding standards will help you write clean, efficient, and maintainable code. Consistent practices lead to better collaboration, fewer bugs, and an overall healthier codebase.

By applying these principles from the start, you’ll avoid costly refactoring and debugging sessions later on. I hope you found these coding standards helpful! Thanks for reading.


Build by Suraj Vishwakarma.