In Go, variable names can be simple and concise, like x or y, or more descriptive, such as speed, price, or motorcycleBrand. The way variables are named is critical for readability and clarity.
Rules for Naming Variables
When naming variables in Go, there are specific rules you need to follow:
- Variable names must begin with either a letter or an underscore (
_). - A variable name cannot start with a digit.
- Names may only contain alphanumeric characters and underscores (e.g.,
a-z,A-Z,0-9,_). - Variable names are case-sensitive, which means
yamaha,Yamaha, andYAMAHAare considered different variables. - There is no limit to the length of variable names.
- Variable names cannot contain spaces.
- Variable names must not be any of Go’s reserved keywords.
Multi-Word Variable Names
For variables with multiple words, it can be challenging to ensure readability. Here are three common techniques to improve clarity:
Camel Case
In this style, the first word is lowercase, and subsequent words start with an uppercase letter:
Go
x
speedLimit := 80Pascal Case
Each word begins with an uppercase letter:
Go
SpeedLimit := 80Snake Case
Words are separated by underscores:
Go
speed_limit := 80