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Function Quote by Rob Pike

“Procedure names should reflect what they do; function names should reflect what they return” quote by Rob Pike — Download Open image

“Procedure names should reflect what they do; function names should reflect what they return”

About This Quote

Source Book: The Practice of Programming, 1999

Names should describe behavior and outcomes clearly for readability and maintenance.

In simple terms: Names should describe what they do and return.

Key Takeaway

Choose descriptive names.

Themes

clarity maintainability software design

Mood

analytical practical

Type

instructional technical

When to use this quote

code reviews
team onboarding
API design
refactoring

Key Concepts

semantic naming function contracts

Questions to Reflect On

How do you decide when a name is descriptive enough?
What conventions help keep naming consistent?

A Different Perspective

Names alone cannot guarantee understandability without documentation.

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Function Function Names Names Procedure Procedure Names Procedures Reflect Function Reflect Return Return Should Technology

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