Code Advice #11: Initialize fields using the property name

(See intro for a background and caveats on these coding advice blog entries.) How do you initialize fields in a constructor? And how do you initialize fields in a JavaBean setter method? Here's the, in my opinion, correct way to do it: void setTemperature(int temperature) { this.temperature = temperature; } The same scheme is used in constructors. There are various other ways to do this. Dave Yost argues that you should use the following pattern: void setTemperature(int newTemperature) { temperature = newTemperature; } Another coding style guide recommends that you "consider using the prefix a or an with parameter names. This helps make the parameter distinguishable from local and instance variables": void setTemperature(int aTemperature) { temperature = aTemperature; } A third scheme I've seen quite frequently is choosing a parameter name that is an abbreviation for the property name being set: void setTemperature(int temp) { temperature = temp; } A fourth suggestion is to use underscores as suffixes on the field names themselves: void setTemperature(int temperature) { temperature_ = temperature; } So, why do I think my way is the right way to do it, and not the other alternatives shown? As always, the first reason is that the this.x...

Date: July, 25 2006
Url: http://blogs.sun.com/tor/entry/code_advice_11_initialize_fields

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