When you have line of code with a parenthetical statement, do you include a space before the parenthetical?
For example, should it be
if()
or
if ()
Thanks in advance!
+1
A:
It's definitely a personal preference (or a team preference when working with other developers) and really doesn't matter in the long run, but I (and everybody else I know) prefer no space.
Whatever you choose, just be consistent. Nothing bothers me more than looking at code that has multiple coding styles all mixed together with no consistency.
Justin Niessner
2010-09-24 13:31:30
I would have to agree with that!! No space for me, I find that easier to read personally.
jimplode
2010-09-24 13:33:14
+1 for consistency - I can't stand messy code
Brian
2010-09-24 13:42:45
+5
A:
Subjective, but I prefer having the space because it looks cleaner, or maybe because that's just how I learnt to 'do it' with language constructs such as switch, if, while and for.
You could do it without the space if you like it to 'look like' a function call, because I don't use a space for function calls.
Delan Azabani
2010-09-24 13:31:33
A:
Visual Studio automatically changes it to if (), so I follow that.
I think it's marginally more readable, but the brackets provide some space already as it is so I think this is one of those totally-doesn't-matter things.
Rei Miyasaka
2010-09-24 13:32:09
@Rei - I don't know what version of Visual Studio you have, what language you're working in, or what code formatting extensions you have...but mine has never done this (and I would spend a day trying to figure out how to disable it if it did).
Justin Niessner
2010-09-24 13:33:42
C# in VS2010. It's been doing it since VS2008 or possibly even VS2005.
Rei Miyasaka
2010-09-24 13:35:16
My version of Visual Studio does this, but it could be ReSharper I suppose.
Scott Anderson
2010-09-24 13:36:24
+1
A:
If you are the only developer on the project, pick whatever you prefer, otherwise stick with whatever convention the team is using.
mikerobi
2010-09-24 13:32:33
A:
In php it doesn't matter, but you probably knew that. I'm putting a space in between. I think it's more readable, probably because for functions I put no space in between and 'if' is not a function :)
zilverdistel
2010-09-24 13:32:34
+2
A:
I prefer keeping it to the default behavior of the IDE that I use, in order to reduce the risk of the source control system flagging insignificant differences between my edits and those of my co-workers. The same goes for other styling issues such as how many spaces to indent, whether to indent using space or tab and so on.
Fredrik Mörk
2010-09-24 13:32:39
A:
I prefer not to use a space, for me it makes it easier to read later and many of the people I know prefer no space as well for reading purposes.
sange
2010-09-24 13:32:46
A:
You should use a space because not all languages use bracket delimited if statements. Leaving a space is the safer habit to get into.
DeadMG
2010-09-24 13:33:50
A:
Interpreters and compilers ignore it, So you can ignore it too!!!
Jalal Amini
2010-09-24 13:33:59
-1 Consistency in style counts because maintaining code is hard and it doesn't matter how much compilers ignore your keyboard mashing, the compiler doesn't maintain your code.
annakata
2010-09-24 13:41:17
A:
It depends on if the compiler/language ignores white-spaces. (all though off the top of my head i can't think of any that would balk at the "if" statement with a space). Outside of the language specifics, it's your preference. That being said, I prefer no space as it makes the code look more concise.
Joel B
2010-09-24 13:34:48
A:
It’s a matter of taste. I personally use the version with the space if () in order to distinguish this visually from a function call where I don’t use a space (as in mathematics).
Sven
2010-09-24 13:35:19
A:
Do whichever, but learn to read either without getting caught up about it.
Same deal as with bracket style.
There, that's about as meaningful an answer I can give to this.
Rei Miyasaka
2010-09-24 13:39:12