Description: Hard coding refers to the practice of embedding fixed values directly into a program’s source code, which can make the software less flexible and harder to maintain. This technique involves developers writing constant values, such as numbers, strings, or configurations, directly into the code instead of using variables or external configurations. As a result, any change to these values requires modifying the code and recompiling the program, which can be a laborious and error-prone process. Refactoring is a key strategy to avoid hard coding, as it allows developers to reorganize and improve existing code without changing its functionality. By eliminating hard coding, code readability, maintainability, and scalability are enhanced, making it easier to adapt to new requirements or changes in the environment. In summary, hard coding is a practice that, while it may seem convenient in the short term, can lead to significant problems in the future, making refactoring essential in modern software development.
