Refactoring
The process of restructuring existing code without changing its external behavior to improve readability, reduce complexity, and make it easier to maintain.
Definicao
Refactoring is a disciplined technique for improving code design in small, safe steps. Each refactoring is a small behavior-preserving transformation. Common refactorings include: Extract Method (pull code into a new function), Rename (improve naming), Move Method (relocate to appropriate class), and Replace Conditional with Polymorphism. Automated tests are essential to ensure refactoring doesn't break functionality.
Por que e importante
Regular refactoring prevents technical debt accumulation and keeps code maintainable. Teams that refactor continuously spend 50% less time on bug fixes. Martin Fowler's book "Refactoring" documents 70+ catalog patterns used industry-wide.
Exemplo
A developer extracts a 50-line validation block from a controller into a separate Validator class, making both the controller and validation logic easier to test and understand.