Python Naming Best Practices

Python follows the PEP 8 style guide for naming conventions. This guide helps improve code readability and maintainability across files, classes, methods, and variables. Below are best practices for naming in Python:

1. File Names

• Should be lowercase.
• Use underscores (_) to separate words for readability.
• Example:

  user_controller.py
  data_processor.py

2. Class Names

• Should use the CapWords (also called CamelCase or PascalCase) convention.
• Each word starts with a capital letter, no underscores.
• Example:

  class DataProcessor:
      pass
  
  class UserController:
      pass

3. Method and Function Names

• Should be lowercase, with words separated by underscores (_) for readability.
• Example:

  def process_data(self):
      pass
  
  def get_user_info(user_id):
      pass

4. Variable Names

• Should be lowercase, with underscores (_) to improve readability.
• Example:

  total_count = 0
  user_name = "Alice"

5. Constants

• Use all uppercase letters, with words separated by underscores (_).
• Example:

  MAX_ATTEMPTS = 3
  API_KEY = "your-api-key"

6. Private Members

• Prefix with a single underscore (_), by convention, to indicate that it is for internal use.
• Example:

  class Example:
      def _internal_method(self):
          pass
  
      def public_method(self):
          pass

7. Special Methods

• Python’s special methods (aka "magic methods") use double underscores before and after the name (e.g., __init__, __str__). These are reserved for Python's internal use.

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Summary Table

Context	Convention	Example
File	snake_case	my_script.py
Class	CapWords	MyClass
Function/Method	snake_case	my_function()
Variable	snake_case	my_variable
Constant	UPPER_CASE	MY_CONSTANT
Private Member	_snake_case (prefix)	_my_private_member

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Following these conventions keeps your Python code professional, clean, and easy to understand for others and for yourself in the future.