PHP & JavaScript Naming Conventions: Best Practices Guide

Naming conventions are a crucial aspect of writing clean, readable, and maintainable code. In both PHP and JavaScript, adhering to standardized naming practices not only improves code clarity but also makes it easier for teams to collaborate effectively. Following conventions for variables, functions, classes, constants, and file names ensures consistency and helps you avoid common pitfalls. In this guide, we’ll dive into the best naming conventions for PHP and JavaScript, providing clear examples and practical tips for structuring your code like a pro.

Consistent naming conventions in PHP and JavaScript make your code more readable, maintainable, and professional. Each language has its own preferred practices, but here are the standard naming conventions for both:

PHP Naming Conventions:

1. Variables
   • Use camelCase for variables.
   • Example:
     $userName = “John Doe”;
     $totalAmount = 1500;
2. Functions
   • Use snake_case or camelCase for function names. CamelCase is becoming more common in modern PHP.
   • Example:
     function get_user_data() {
     // Code here
     }
     
     function getUserInfo() {
     // Code here
     }
3. Classes and Objects
   • Use PascalCase (also known as UpperCamelCase) for class names.
   • Example:
     class UserProfile {
     // Class properties and methods
     }
4. Constants
   • Use UPPERCASE with underscores for constant names.
   • Example:
     define(‘MAX_USERS’, 100);
     const MAX_LIMIT = 500;
5. Configuration Files (YAML)
   • Use YAML for managing settings in PHP applications. For example, in Laravel, configuration can be managed in config/*.yaml files:
     database:
     default: mysql
     connections:
     mysql:
     host: 127.0.0.1
     port: 3306
     database: app_db
     username: root
     password: secret

JavaScript Naming Conventions

1. Variables
   • Use camelCase for variables.
   • Example:
     let userName = “Jane Doe”;
     const totalAmount = 500;
2. Functions
   • Functions follow camelCase for naming.
   • Example:
     function getUserData() {
     // Code here
     }
     
     const calculateTotal = (amount, tax) => {
     return amount + tax;
     };
3. Classes and Objects
   • Use PascalCase (also known as UpperCamelCase) for class names.
   • Example:
     class UserProfile {
     constructor(name) {
     this.name = name;
     }
     }
4. Constants
   • Use UPPERCASE with underscores for constant names.
   • Example:
     const MAX_USERS = 100;
     const API_URL = ‘https://api.example.com’;
5. Configuration Files (YAML)
   • JavaScript applications often use JSON for configurations, like in Node.js projects:
     database:
     {
     “server”: {
     “host”: “localhost”,
     “port”: 3000
     },
     “database”: {
     “host”: “127.0.0.1”,
     “user”: “root”,
     “password”: “secret”,
     “name”: “app_db”
     }
     }
     
     
     Other details:
     https://gitlab.com/rserrano0203/clean-code/