Coding patterns contains examples of how to refine your code to be more readable and usable.

Good aim is to write code without comments: If you have to write a comment about what is happening, something smells!!!

Good practice

Good practice is always good: You can aply these in every situation.

Don't abbreviate variable names

$cT = time();

Use descriptive variable names.

$currentTime = time();

Split Temporary Variable

$temp = 100;
print $temp;
$temp = 100 * 200;
print $temp;

Use temp variable for only one purpose:

$length = 100;
print $length;
$area  = 100 * 200;
print $area;

Remove assignments to Arguments

function ($val){
    $val = $val * 2;
}

Don't modify function arguments. If you need to locally modify them, set them to new temp variable.

function ($val){
    $tempVal = $val * 2;
}

Refactorings

Refactorigns are patterns to redefine your code. Most of the patters are reversable: What to use depends on the situation.

Extract Method

// Do something: Comment here to understand what is going on
$my = 'code';
$is = 'here';

Extract a block code of block to its own method. Use method name as 'Comment':

doSomething(){
  $my = 'code';
  $is = 'here';
}

Inline Temp

$var = 100*100*100;
return $var * $otherVar;

Replace Temp with function:

return myTempValue() * $otherVar;

Introduce Explaining Variable

if ( $value > $maxLimit || $value < $minLimit ){ ... }

Replace statements with more readable Temp variable.

$isTooHigh = $value > $maxLimit;
$isTooLow  = $value < $minLimit;
if ( $isTooLow || $isTooHigh ){ ... }