/ Refactoring / Refactoring techniques / Composing Methods

Split Temporary Variable

Problem

You have a local variable that is used to store various intermediate values inside a method (except for cycle variables).

Solution

Use different variables for different values. Each variable should be responsible for only one particular thing.

Before
double temp = 2 * (height + width);
System.out.println(temp);
temp = height * width;
System.out.println(temp);
After
final double perimeter = 2 * (height + width);
System.out.println(perimeter);
final double area = height * width;
System.out.println(area);
Before
double temp = 2 * (height + width);
Console.WriteLine(temp);
temp = height * width;
Console.WriteLine(temp);
After
readonly double perimeter = 2 * (height + width);
Console.WriteLine(perimeter);
readonly double area = height * width;
Console.WriteLine(area);
Before
$temp = 2 * ($this->height + $this->width);
echo $temp;
$temp = $this->height * $this->width;
echo $temp;
After
$perimeter = 2 * ($this->height + $this->width);
echo $perimeter;
$area = $this->height * $this->width;
echo $area;
Before
temp = 2 * (height + width)
print(temp)
temp = height * width
print(temp)
After
perimeter = 2 * (height + width)
print(perimeter)
area = height * width
print(area)
Before
let temp = 2 * (height + width);
console.log(temp);
temp = height * width;
console.log(temp);
After
const perimeter = 2 * (height + width);
console.log(perimeter);
const area = height * width;
console.log(area);

Why Refactor

If you are skimping on the number of variables inside a function and reusing them for various unrelated purposes, you are sure to encounter problems as soon as you need to make changes to the code containing the variables. You will have to recheck each case of variable use to make sure that the correct values are used.

Benefits

  • Each component of the program code should be responsible for one and one thing only. This makes it much easier to maintain the code, since you can easily replace any particular thing without fear of unintended effects.

  • Code becomes more readable. If a variable was created long ago in a rush, it probably has a name that does not explain anything: k, a2, value, etc. But you can fix this situation by naming the new variables in an understandable, self-explanatory way. Such names might resemble customerTaxValue, cityUnemploymentRate, clientSalutationString and the like.

  • This refactoring technique is useful if you anticipate using Extract Method later.

How to Refactor

  1. Find the first place in the code where the variable is given a value. Here you should rename the variable with a name that corresponds to the value being assigned.

  2. Use the new name instead of the old one in places where this value of the variable is used.

  3. Repeat as needed for places where the variable is assigned a different value.