Hard Coded Strings
Hard coded strings are literal text values embedded directly within source code, rather than being stored in external configuration files, databases, or resource files. This practice involves writing fixed, unchangeable text (like messages, labels, or file paths) directly into the codebase, making them difficult to modify without altering the source code itself. It is a common programming anti-pattern that can lead to maintenance issues, reduced flexibility, and localization challenges.
Developers should avoid hard coded strings in production code to improve maintainability, enable easier updates, and support internationalization (i18n). Use cases include storing user-facing text in resource files for multi-language support, keeping configuration values (e.g., API endpoints) in environment variables or config files for deployment flexibility, and separating business logic from static data to reduce code duplication. Instead, learn to externalize strings using techniques like constants, configuration management, or internationalization libraries.