CodingGuidelines: instruct to name arrays in singular
Arrays should be named in the singular form, ensuring that when accessing an element within an array (e.g. dog[0]) it's clear that we're referring to an element instead of a collection. Add a new rule to CodingGuidelines asking for arrays to be named in singular instead of plural. Helped-by: Eric Sunshine <sunshine@sunshineco.com> Signed-off-by: Lucas Seiki Oshiro <lucasseikioshiro@gmail.com> Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Lucas Seiki Oshiro committed
Feb 25, 2026 at 13:32 UTC
c63e64e04d43ebdc04204a052858c4801c018e1e
1 file changed
+13
Documentation/CodingGuidelines
+13
index df72fe0177..278083526d 100644
--- a/Documentation/CodingGuidelines
+++ b/Documentation/CodingGuidelines
@@ -656,6 +656,19 @@ For C programs:
unsigned other_field:1;
unsigned field_with_longer_name:1;
+ - Array names should be named in the singular form if the individual items are
+ subject of use. E.g.:
+
+ char *dog[] = ...;
+ walk_dog(dog[0]);
+ walk_dog(dog[1]);
+
+ Cases where the array is employed as a whole rather than as its unit parts,
+ the plural forms is preferable. E.g:
+
+ char *dogs[] = ...;
+ walk_all_dogs(dogs);
+
For Perl programs:
- Most of the C guidelines above apply.