Avoid Mental Mapping

☑️ Topic: Variables

☑️ Idea: Use explicit names for variables instead of using an alias. A single-letter name is just a placeholder for the reader to map into the actual concept and this is a problem.

☑️ Benefit: Readability. Readers don’t need to translate your name into other names they already know.

☑️ Guideline: Explicit is better than implicit. If you can’t read the code like a sentence, you should rename the variables that are off.


// BAD
const locations = ["Austin", "New York", "San Francisco"];
locations.forEach(l => {
  doStuff();
  // Wait, what is `l` for again?
  dispatch(l);
});

// GOOD
const locations = ["Austin", "New York", "San Francisco"];
locations.forEach(location => {
  doStuff();
  dispatch(location);
});