How do I name an interface when the base word starts with an I?

Question

I want to create an interface for "Items". Typicaly I would name an interface by adding and "I" prefix to a base word. But in this case my base word already starts with an I. Here are a couple ideas I've had

• IItem: Two I's
• Iitem : Vary the case
• ItemInterface: Skip the I prefix and write out Interface

What looks the best? Has anyone else run into this problem. If so what did you do?

Answer 1

Although hard to read, IItem would be in line with some existing "II" interfaces:

• IItem in Windows Mobile 6.5
• IImplicitResourceProvider
• IISAPIRuntime

Answer 2

Simply IItem. There is no need for an exception.

Interfaces start with two upper case letters (I[A-Z]), which identify them as an interface. So Item is not an interface, but IItem is.

Answer 3

You can see the MS guys is using System.ComponentModel.IItemProperties

Answer 4

Just Item, please! Not because the interface starts with an I, but rather because prefixing classes with identifying letters is not necessary. Decorating interfaces with I is as ugly as slapping C before your concrete class names (*cough* MFC *cough*). Prefixing types with anything is tantamount to using Hungarian notation (auuugh my eyes).

You could argue that it actually gives you semantic value, but I'm not convinced. I have a modern IDE and I don't need my type names to be any uglier.

Let the haters hate...

Answer 5

According to .Net naming convention Interface name should be preceded by Capital Letter 'I' Followed by Name of interface in Camel case.

So I suggest you to to name interface Item as:

IItem

Not necessary to Mention 'Interface' at the end because The Letter 'I' at the Start itself says that it is Interface, not require to mention explicitly.