Example if applicable

Line, SavingsAccount

line, savingsAccount

MAX_ITERATIONS, COLOR_RED, PI

int getMaxIterations() // NOT: MAX_ITERATIONS = 25
{
  return 25;
}

This form is both easier to read, and it ensures a unified interface towards class values.

getName(), computeTotalWidth()

model::analyzer, io::iomanager, common::math::geometry

template<class T> ...
template<class C, class D> ...

exportHtmlSource(); // NOT: exportHTMLSource();
openDvdPlayer();    // NOT: openDVDPlayer();

::mainWindow.open(), ::applicationContext.getName()

class SomeClass {
private: 
  int length_;
};

void setDepth(int depth)
{
  depth_ = depth;
}

An issue is whether the underscore should be added as a prefix or as a suffix. Both practices are commonly used, but the latter is recommended because it seem to best preserve the readability of the name.

It should be noted that scope identification in variables has been a controversial issue for quite some time. It seems, though, that this practice now is gaining acceptance and that it is becoming more and more common as a convention in the professional development community.

void setTopic(Topic* topic) // NOT: void setTopic(Topic* value) 
                            // NOT: void setTopic(Topic* aTopic)
                            // NOT: void setTopic(Topic* t)
void connect(Database* database) // NOT: void connect(Database* db)
                                 // NOT: void connect(Database* oracleDB)

Point startingPoint, centerPoint;
Name loginName;

fileName; // NOT: filNavn

line.getLength(); // NOT: line.getLineLength();

employee.getName();
employee.setName(name); 

matrix.getElement(2, 4);
matrix.setElement(2, 4, value);

valueSet.computeAverage();
matrix.computeInverse()

vertex.findNearestVertex();

matrix.findMinElement();

printer.initializeFontSet();

mainWindow, propertiesDialog, widthScale, loginText, leftScrollbar, mainForm, fileMenu, minLabel, exitButton, yesToggle etc.

vector<Point> points; 
int values[];

nPoints, nLines

tableNo, employeeNo

for (int i = 0; i < nTables); i++) {
  :
} 

for (vector<MyClass>::iterator i = list.begin(); i != list.end(); i++) { 
  Element element = *i; 
  ... 
}

isSet, isVisible, isFinished, isFound, isOpen

bool hasLicense();
bool canEvaluate();
bool shouldSort();

get/set, add/remove, create/destroy, start/stop, insert/delete, increment/decrement, old/new, begin/end, first/last, 
up/down, min/max, next/previous, open/close, show/hide, suspend/resume, etc.

computeAverage(); // NOT: compAvg();

Line* line; // NOT: Line* pLine;
            // NOT: Line* linePtr;

bool isError; // NOT: isNoError
bool isFound; // NOT: isNotFound

enum Color { 
  COLOR_RED, 
  COLOR_GREEN,
  COLOR_BLUE 
};

class AccessException { 
  : 
};

my-class.hpp, my-class.cpp

my-class.hpp, my-class.cpp

totalSum = a + b + c + 
           d + e;

function(param1, param2, 
         param3);

for (int tableNo = 0; tableNo < nTables;
     tableNo += tableStep) { 
  ... 
}

• Break after a comma.
• Break after an operator.
• Align the new line with the beginning of the expression on the previous line.

#ifndef COM_COMPANY_MODULE_CLASSNAME_H
#define COM_COMPANY_MODULE_CLASSNAME_H
:
#endif // COM_COMPANY_MODULE_CLASSNAME_H

#include <string>

#include <qt/qbutton.h>

#include "../ui/PropertiesDialog.h"

#include <fstream> 
#include <iomanip>

#include <qt/qbutton.h> 
#include <qt/qtextfield.h>

#include "com/company/ui/PropertiesDialog.h" 
#include "com/company/ui/MainWindow.h"

floatValue = (float)intValue; // NOT: floatValue = intValue;

int x, y, z;
getCenter(&x, &y, &z);

In these cases it should be left uninitialized rather than initialized to some phony value.

For C, declare variables at the beginning of the block for compatibility with older compilers.

float* x; // NOT: float *x;
int& y;   // NOT: int &y;

if (nLines != 0)  // NOT: if (nLines)
if (value != 0.0) // NOT: if (value)

sum = 0;                     // NOT: for (i = 0, sum = 0; i < 100; i++)
for (i = 0; i < 100; i++)              sum += value[i];
  sum += value[i];

isDone = false;        // NOT: bool isDone = false;
while (!isDone) {      //      // other stuff
  :                    //      while (!isDone) {
}                      //        :
                       //      }

while (true) { 
  : 
}

// NOT:
for (;;) { // NO! 
  : 
}

while (1) { // NO! 
  : 
}

bool isFinished = (elementNo < 0) || (elementNo > maxElement); 
bool isRepeatedEntry = elementNo == lastElement; 
if (isFinished || isRepeatedEntry) { 
  : 
}

// NOT: 
if ((elementNo < 0) || (elementNo > maxElement) || elementNo == lastElement) { 
  : 
}

bool isOk = readFile(fileName); 
if (isOk) { 
  : 
} 
else { 
  : 
}

if (isDone)         // NOT: if (isDone) doCleanup();
  doCleanup();

File* fileHandle = open(fileName, "w");
if (!fileHandle) { 
  : 
}

// NOT: if (!(fileHandle = open(fileName, "w"))) { 
  : 
}

double total = 0.0;   // NOT: double total = 0;
double speed = 3.0e8; // NOT: double speed = 3e8;

double sum; 
: 
sum = (a + b) * 10.0;

double total = 0.5; // NOT: double total = .5;

int getValue() // NOT: getValue()
{ 
  : 
}

for (i = 0; i < nElements; i++) 
  a[i] = 0;

while (!done) {
  doSomething(); 
  done = moreToDo(); 
}

while (!done) 
{
  doSomething(); 
  done = moreToDo(); 
}

while (!done) 
  {                 // NO!
    doSomething(); 
    done = moreToDo(); 
  }

class SomeClass : public BaseClass 
{ 
public: 
  ...

protected: 
  ...

private: 
  ... 
};

void someMethod() 
{ 
  ... 
}

if (condition) { 
  statements; 
}

if (condition) { 
  statements; 
} 
else { 
  statements; 
}

if (condition) { 
  statements; 
} 
else if (condition) {
  statements; 
} 
else { 
  statements; 
}

if (condition) {
  statements;
} else {
  statements;
}

The chosen approach is considered better in the way that each part of the if-else statement is written on separate lines of the file. This should make it easier to manipulate the statement, for instance when moving else clauses around.

for (initialization; condition; update) { 
  statements; 
}

for (initialization; condition; update)
  ;

while (condition) { 
  statements; 
}

do { 
  statements; 
} while (condition);

switch (condition) { 
  case ABC :
    statements; 
    // Fallthrough 

  case DEF : 
    statements; 
    break;

  case XYZ : 
    statements; 
    break; 

  default : 
    statements; 
    break;
}

try { 
  statements; 
} 
catch (Exception& exception) { 
  statements; 
}

if (condition) 
  statement;

while (condition) 
  statement;

for (initialization; condition; update) 
  statement;

void
MyClass::myMethod(void) 
{ 
  : 
}

a = (b + c) * d; // NOT: a=(b+c)*d

while (true)     // NOT: while(true) 
{ 
  ...

doSomething(a, b, c, d);   // NOT: doSomething(a,b,c,d);

case 100 :                 // NOT: case 100:

for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) { // NOT: for(i=0;i<10;i++){
  ...

Matrix4x4 matrix = new Matrix4x4();

double cosAngle = Math.cos(angle); 
double sinAngle = Math.sin(angle); 

matrix.setElement(1, 1, cosAngle);
matrix.setElement(1, 2, sinAngle); 
matrix.setElement(2, 1, -sinAngle); 
matrix.setElement(2, 2, cosAngle);

multiply(matrix);

AsciiFile* file; 
int        nPoints; 
float      x, y;

value = (potential        * oilDensity)   / constant1 + 
        (depth            * waterDensity) / constant2 + 
        (zCoordinateValue * gasDensity)   / constant3;

minPosition =     computeDistance(min,     x, y, z); 
averagePosition = computeDistance(average, x, y, z);

// Comment spanning 
// more than one line.

while (true) {       // NOT:  while (true) {
  // Do something             // Do something
  something();                  something(); 
}                         }