Refactoring is the process of improving code structure without changing its functionality.

Elaboration:

• Enhances readability, performance, and maintainability.
• Common techniques:
  • Extract Method: Break a large function into smaller methods.
  • Rename Variables: Improve variable names for clarity.
  • Remove Duplications: Avoid redundant code.
• Refactoring should be done incrementally to prevent bugs.

Example (Before & After Refactoring in Python):

Before:

python def calculate_area(length, width):
    return length * width

def calculate_perimeter(length, width):
    return 2 * (length + width)

After (Refactored):

class Rectangle:
    def __init__(self, length, width):
        self.length = length
        self.width = width

    def area(self):
        return self.length * self.width

    def perimeter(self):
        return 2 * (self.length + self.width)

• Encapsulates related functionality inside a Rectangle class.