Hardcoded Values
Hardcoded values are literal data or constants embedded directly into source code, such as numbers, strings, or booleans, rather than being stored in variables, configuration files, or external sources. This practice involves writing fixed values that do not change during program execution, often used for simple configurations, magic numbers, or placeholder data. While convenient for quick prototyping or trivial cases, it can lead to maintenance issues, reduced flexibility, and security risks in production environments.
Developers should use hardcoded values sparingly, primarily in scenarios like rapid prototyping, unit testing with mock data, or for truly immutable constants (e.g., mathematical pi). It is not recommended for production code where values might change, as it makes updates difficult and increases the risk of errors; instead, use configuration files, environment variables, or constants defined in a single location for better maintainability and scalability.