Kebab Case

Kebab case, also known as "spinal case" or "hyphen case," involves writing compound words in lowercase letters and separating them with hyphens ("-"). For example, the phrase "user settings panel" would be represented as "user-settings-panel" in the kebab case. This style improves readability by visually distinguishing words, making it easier to understand the purpose of the variable or element at a glance.

Kebab case stands in contrast to other naming conventions:

• Camel Case: In camel case, compound words are written without spaces, and each word (except the first) is capitalised. For example, "userSettingsPanel."

• Pascal Case: Similar to camel case, pascal case capitalises the first letter of each word, including the first one. For example, "UserSettingsPanel."

• Snake Case: In snake case, words are separated by underscores ("_"). For example, "user_settings_panel."

Examples of kebab case usage

Kebab case, known for its simplicity and clarity, is frequently employed in various programming scenarios. Let's explore some examples of how kebab case is used in different contexts:

Variable and function names

# Variable names
user-name = "JohnDoe"
total-sales-amount = 2500.50
order-status = "completed"

# Function names
calculate-discount = function(total-amount, discount-percent) {
    // Function logic here
} 

File names

index.html
styles.css
script.js
data-fetching-service.js

URL routing and slugs

https://example.com/user-profile/settings
https://api.example.com/products/product-details
https://blog.example.com/blog-post/understanding-kebab-case 

CSS class names and HTML attributes

<div class="user-profile-section">
    <button class="btn-primary">Submit</button>
</div>

Command line and terminal usage

npm install
git commit -m "Added feature-x functionality"
python script.py --input-file data.txt 

Frameworks and libraries

const express = require('express');
const dataService = require('data-service');

API endpoints

/api/v1/users
/api/v1/products
/api/v2/customer-orders

Configuration files

config/settings-config.json
config/db-connection-config.json
config/app-config.js 

The kebab case provides a clean and easily understandable way to represent names and entities in all these examples. It enhances readability and aids in quickly grasping the purpose or context of each element. Whether you're working on web development, scripting, or any other programming task, kebab case offers a consistent and intuitive naming convention.

Benefits of using kebab case

Kebab case offers several advantages that contribute to improved code quality and development practices. 

Enhanced readability

Like camel and snake cases, the Kebab case effectively separates words, resulting in more transparent and easily understandable code. 

Optimised search engine visibility

In web development, the kebab case is commonly employed for naming URLs and slugs, just as snake or camel cases. This choice aligns well with search engines' ability to interpret hyphens or underscores as natural word boundaries, potentially boosting the discoverability of web content.

Cross-language consistency

Kebab case, like the other naming mentioned above conventions, enjoys widespread recognition and acceptance across various programming languages. This compatibility simplifies collaboration and ensures a cohesive approach to naming conventions within diverse development environments.

When to use kebab case

While kebab case offers several advantages, it is essential to consider the context in which you use it. 

Best practices and use cases

Kebab case is well-suited for variables, function names, and file names, similar to camel and snake cases. It's beneficial in web development for URLs, CSS class names, and HTML attributes.

Situations to avoid kebab case

Kebab case may not be suitable for all scenarios. For instance, some programming languages have conventions that prefer other naming styles, such as camel case or pascal case. The kebab case may be better for variable names involving acronyms or abbreviations.

Implementing kebab case in different environments

To effectively implement the kebab case:

• Coding guidelines and standards: Ensure your project follows a consistent naming convention, whether it's kebab case, camel case, pascal case, or snake case.

• Kebab case in variable names: Choose descriptive and meaningful names for variables using kebab case, similar to other naming conventions.

• Kebab case in URLs and routing: Utilise kebab case when creating URLs, route paths, and slugs in web applications, just like you would with snake case or camel case.

Converting between naming conventions

Converting between different naming conventions, such as camel, pascal, snake, and kebab, can sometimes be necessary. Here's how you can transition from one style to another:

• Tools and libraries for converting Case Formats: Many programming languages and development environments offer tools or libraries for automated case conversion, regardless of the specific convention.

• Manual conversion techniques: Manually converting between naming conventions involves careful editing for smaller tasks or situations without feasible automation. Regular expressions or find-and-replace functions can assist in this process. 

Avoiding standard naming conventions mistakes

It's crucial to maintain consistency to ensure clarity and prevent mistakes in your codebase. Here are two common errors to steer clear of.

Inconsistencies in naming conventions

Adherence to a single naming convention, whether kebab, camel, pascal, or snake, can result in clarity and errors. Choosing one convention and applying it consistently throughout your code is advisable.

Handling acronyms and abbreviations

When you encounter acronyms or abbreviations in your variable or function names, it's essential to consider how they align with your chosen naming convention. Make a deliberate choice between treating them as a single word or segmenting the letters with appropriate separators. This decision contributes to the overall uniformity of your code.