Why Best Practices?

Good C code is not only correct; it is readable, maintainable and safe. Best practices reduce bugs and make teamwork easier.

Code Style

• Use meaningful variable names: totalMarks, not tm
• Keep indentation consistent
• Avoid very long functions
• Use constants instead of magic numbers
• Comment why, not every line of what

#define MAX_STUDENTS 100

void printStudent(int roll, const char name[], float marks) {
    printf("%d %s %.2f\n", roll, name, marks);
}

Memory Safety

• Initialize variables before use
• Check array bounds
• Check malloc() result
• Free dynamically allocated memory
• Set pointer to NULL after free when needed

Function Design

• Each function should perform one clear task
• Use parameters instead of global variables where possible
• Return status for error handling
• Keep input, processing and output separate
• Use header files for declarations in bigger projects

Checklist

• Compile with warnings enabled
• Test normal and edge cases
• Use clear names and consistent formatting
• Handle errors properly
• Review pointer and memory code carefully