hardcodes

Hardcodes, also known as hard-coded values or constants, are literal values embedded directly into the source code of a program. Instead of using a variable or a configuration setting, a programmer might write a specific number, string, or boolean value directly where it is used. For instance, a program might use the number 100 directly to represent a maximum limit, or the string "admin" directly to check for administrator privileges.

While hardcodes can seem convenient for simple, static values, they often lead to maintainability issues. If a hardcoded value needs to be changed, the programmer must locate every instance of that value within the codebase and modify it. This process can be error-prone and time-consuming, especially in larger projects. Furthermore, hardcodes make it difficult to adapt a program to different environments or user configurations without altering the source code itself.

Best practices in software development generally discourage the use of hardcodes. Instead, developers are encouraged to use named constants, configuration files, or environment variables. These approaches allow values to be managed centrally and modified without needing to recompile the entire program. For example, a maximum limit could be defined as a constant like MAX_USERS, or stored in a configuration file. This makes the code more readable, easier to update, and more flexible.