Developer Naming Conventions Guide — camelCase, snake_case, and When to Use Each
camelCase — JavaScript, Java, and TypeScript
Variables and functions in JavaScript use camelCase: `myVariableName`, `getUserData`, `isLoading`. Converting from other formats? Use the snake_case to camelCase or kebab-case to camelCase converter.
snake_case — Python, Ruby, and Databases
Python's PEP 8 mandates snake_case for functions and variables: `user_name`, `get_user_data`. Database column names also commonly use snake_case. Convert from JS naming with the camelCase to snake_case converter.
PascalCase — Classes and Components
Class names in most languages and React components use PascalCase: `UserProfile`, `HttpClient`, `DataManager`. Convert from snake_case with snake_case to PascalCase or from camelCase with camelCase to PascalCase.
kebab-case — CSS, URLs, and File Names
CSS class names, URL slugs, and many config files use kebab-case: `main-content`, `user-profile`, `api-response`. Convert with camelCase to kebab-case or snake_case to kebab-case.
CONSTANT_CASE and Others
Environment variables and constants use CONSTANT_CASE: `API_KEY`, `MAX_RETRIES`, `DATABASE_URL`. Some config systems use dot.case: `app.config.database`. Quick tip: the UPPERCASE converter and lowercase converter handle simple text transforms.
How to Choose Without Overthinking It
If you are in application code, follow the language convention first. If you are naming CSS, URLs, or file paths, pick the convention that keeps the output readable and predictable. The key is consistency within the project, not chasing a single universal style.
Frequently Asked Questions
Convert names to the right case
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