Code Hygiene: A Guide to Writing Clean and Efficient SQL Codes

Photo by Pakata Goh on Unsplash

Writing clean and maintainable SQL code is important for the long-term success of database projects. Here’s a list of principles and practices for clean SQL code:

1. Consistent Formatting:

• Use consistent indentation and spacing to improve readability.
• Choose a consistent naming convention for tables, columns, and other database objects.

-- Inconsistent Formatting
SELECT column1, column2, column3
FROM table1
WHERE condition1 AND
condition2;

-- Consistent Formatting
SELECT
    column1,
    column2,
    column3
FROM
    table1
WHERE
    condition1
    AND condition2;

2. Descriptive Names:

• Use meaningful and descriptive names for tables, columns, and other database objects.
• Avoid abbreviations that might be unclear to others.

-- Poor Naming
SELECT id, fname, lname
FROM users;

-- Descriptive Naming
SELECT user_id, first_name, last_name
FROM user_data;

3. Comments:

• Include comments to explain complex queries, business rules, or any non-trivial logic.
• Document the purpose of tables and columns, especially if their names are not self-explanatory.