Clean PHP: Get your naming right

When it comes to writing clean code, naming things well is often the single most important skill you can develop as a developer. Names are everywhere: variables, functions, classes, constants, and more. Good names help your code communicate intent clearly, making it easier to read, understand, and maintain. On the other hand, poor names cause confusion, bugs, and wasted time.

In this post, I’ll explore why naming matters, common pitfalls, and practical guidelines to help you pick better names — whether you’re writing a quick script or architecting a large application.

Why Naming Matters

At its core, programming is a form of communication — between you and your future self, and between you and other developers on your team. Unlike spoken language, code has to be precise and unambiguous. The names you choose become the vocabulary of that language.

Imagine reading a book where every character, place, and object is called “thing1,” “stuff,” or “data.” It’s frustrating, slow, and prone to misunderstanding. The same goes for code. Clear and intention-revealing names turn code into a story that’s easy to follow.

Poorly named variables and functions often lead to subtle bugs because developers misunderstand what a piece of code is supposed to do. They slow down onboarding new team members, reduce productivity, and increase technical debt.

Common Naming Pitfalls in PHP

Let’s look at some common naming mistakes PHP developers make:

1. Vague or Generic Names

Problem: Variables or functions named too generically don’t explain their purpose.

Example:

function process($data) {
    foreach ($data as $item) {
        echo $item;
    }
}

Here, $data and $item reveal nothing about the expected input or what the function processes. This forces anyone reading or maintaining the code to guess the intent, which can lead to errors.

Fix: Use descriptive names that tell exactly what’s expected.

function processUsernames(array $usernames) {
    foreach ($usernames as $username) {
        echo $username;
    }
}

Now it’s crystal clear that this function expects an array of usernames, making the code self-explanatory and easier to maintain.

2. Abbreviations and Acronyms

Problem: While abbreviations might seem like a time saver, they often confuse those who aren’t familiar with them.

Example:

$usrCnt = countUsrs();
$prdctId = getPrdctId();

his code can be cryptic to someone unfamiliar with these abbreviations, increasing the learning curve and potential mistakes.

Fix: Always prefer clear, full words:

$userCount = countUsers();
$productId = getProductId();

3. Inconsistent Naming Conventions

Problem: Mixing styles like camelCase, snake_case, and PascalCase within a single project makes code harder to scan and maintain.

Example:

$user_name = "Alice";
function getUserName() { /* ... */ }
class userManager { /* ... */ }

Fix: Adopt and enforce a consistent style, such as:

• Variables and methods in camelCase: $userName, getUserName()
• Classes in PascalCase: UserManager

4. Misleading Names

Problem: Functions or variables whose names don’t match their actual behavior cause confusion.

Example:

function processUser($id) {
    // Actually deletes the user, which is misleading
    deleteUserFromDatabase($id);
}

Fix: Rename it to accurately describe its effect

function deleteUser($id) {
    deleteUserFromDatabase($id);
}

5. Overly Long Names

Problem: Long names can become a hassle, though clarity is paramount.

Example:

$userAccountInformationArray = getUsers();

Fix: Use short names that don't hold duplicated or unnecessary information

$userAccounts = getUsers();

Best Practices for Naming in PHP

1. Make Names Intention-Revealing

Instead of:

function calc($a, $b) {
    return $a * $b;
}

Use:

function calculateTotalPrice($pricePerUnit, $quantity) {
    return $pricePerUnit * $quantity;
}

2. Use Consistent Naming Conventions

Stick to one style, e.g.:

• Variables and methods: camelCase
• Classes: PascalCase
• Constants: UPPER_SNAKE_CASE

3. Avoid Unnecessary Abbreviations

Write full words unless abbreviation is universal.

4. Use Domain Language

Name things based on the business or problem domain.

5. Name Booleans as Yes/No Questions

$isActive = true;
$hasDiscount = false;

6. Avoid Encoding Types in Names

Don’t use types in names, e.g., $userListArray.

Naming in Frameworks

When working within a PHP framework, naming conventions often come baked in — either enforced by the framework itself or strongly suggested through documentation and community standards. Following these conventions is typically a best practice, but it’s important to understand the trade-offs of adhering too rigidly or diverging when needed.

Why Follow Framework Naming Conventions

• Consistency with the community: Other developers familiar with the framework will understand your code faster.
• Easier onboarding: New team members can get up to speed without learning a custom naming style.
• Better integration: Framework features like dependency injection, routing, or model binding often rely on naming patterns.
• Cleaner auto-generation: Tools like Artisan (Laravel) or Symfony Maker generate classes with expected names, reducing manual work.

Downsides of Strict Adherence

• Less flexibility: You might feel boxed in by naming standards that don’t quite fit your domain or use case.
• Over-generalization: Relying too much on convention can lead to naming that matches structure but not intent.
• Tooling assumptions: Auto-generated code may be too generic if not customized post-generation.

Framework Naming Conventions at a Glance

Tip: Most frameworks align closely with PSR-1 and PSR-12 coding standards. These are great baselines even for custom projects.

Use Tools that ensure your naming conventions

Maintaining consistent naming across a codebase is much easier with the help of static analysis tools and linters. These tools can catch violations, suggest improvements, and even auto-fix certain naming issues — all of which support cleaner, more maintainable code.

Below is a list of helpful tools for PHP developers aiming to enforce naming conventions:

PHP_CodeSniffer

• What it does: Detects violations of coding standards, including naming styles for classes, methods, and variables.
• How to use it: Configure with standard rulesets (like PSR-12) or define your own. Run it manually or integrate into CI pipelines.
• Bonus: Can auto-fix many issues using phpcbf.

composer require --dev squizlabs/php_codesniffer ./vendor/bin/phpcs --standard=PSR12 src/

PHPStan & Psalm

• What they do: Static analysis tools that focus on type safety and structural correctness but can also spot naming-related issues.
• Unique value: They don’t enforce naming styles per se, but will flag issues like unused private methods or poorly scoped variables — which often relate to poor naming.
• Usage: Both integrate well with CI/CD workflows and large PHP codebases.

# PHPStan
composer require --dev phpstan/phpstan
./vendor/bin/phpstan analyse src/

# Psalm
composer require --dev vimeo/psalm
./vendor/bin/psalm

Editor & IDE Plugins

Most modern editors like PHPStorm, VS Code, or Eclipse PDT support real-time linting and can flag naming inconsistencies as you type.

• PHPStorm: Fully integrates with PHP_CodeSniffer and PHP-CS-Fixer.
• VS Code: Use extensions like “phpcs” or “php cs fixer” to catch naming and style issues during development.

Tool-Overview

Tip: Combine multiple tools for full coverage — e.g., PHP_CodeSniffer for naming, PHPStan for type safety, and PHP-CS-Fixer for formatting.

Using these tools not only enforces consistency but also improves collaboration, simplifies code reviews, and reduces bugs introduced through inconsistent naming or ambiguous terminology.

Conclusion

Good naming is the foundation of clean code. It transforms your code from cryptic to communicative, making it easier to read, debug, and extend. Being intentional, consistent, and domain-aware will greatly improve your projects.

Remember: code is read far more than it’s written. Invest in naming today to save headaches tomorrow.

Happy coding!