Naming Glossary

Browse 8 naming terms defined in plain English, from the cultural dictionary of computing.

8 Naming Terms

Model Name: The human-readable name used to refer to a model in product docs, configuration, or provider catalogs. Model names are useful, but engineering systems usually...
Name Collision: A conflict caused by two things sharing the same name in a scope where that creates ambiguity or breakage. In engineering slang, name collisions are one of...
Namespace: A container that holds a set of identifiers (names) and provides a scope to avoid collisions — allowing two different libraries to define a function with the...
Namespace Collision: A conflict that occurs when two things expected to have distinct names end up sharing the same identifier space and collide. It shows up in code symbols,...
Package Name: The identifier under which a package is published and installed in a package ecosystem. In practical terms, package names matter for discoverability, trust,...
Self-Documenting Code: Code written clearly enough through structure, naming, and small focused logic that its purpose is understandable with minimal explanatory comments. The term...
Variable: A named storage location that holds a value which can be referenced and (in mutable languages) changed during program execution. The most fundamental building...
What's in a Name: A phrase used when debating whether naming details matter to understanding, trust, or adoption. In engineering slang, it often introduces the point that names...