ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Programming style

Programming style is like teaching someone how to draw a picture. Just like there are rules for drawing, there are rules for writing code in a way that is easy to read and understand. It's like having neat handwriting so it's clear what you wrote.

A programmer writes in a specific way, like how you write your letters a certain way. There are different styles of programming and everyone has their favorite. It’s kind of like when you color in your coloring book, you use your favorite colors and the way you shade is just the way you like it.

Some programming styles are easier to follow because they are simple, use words that are easy to understand, and organize the code in a way that makes sense. Just like if you were trying to explain a story, you would start at the beginning and go in order.

When programmers use good style, it helps others who have to read the code to understand it quickly. This is important because lots of people need to work together to create a program, just like building a tall tower out of blocks, you need to work with others to keep it stable.

Finally, just like you like to draw, there are programmers who like to code. Others like to read, review, and test code. They’re like your art teacher who loves to look at your drawings and help you make them better. So, programming style is like having neat handwriting and following guidelines to write code so that everyone can easily read and understand it.
Related topics others have asked about: