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/ Refactoring / Techniques / Simplifying Method Calls

Replace Parameter with Explicit Methods

Problem

A method is split into parts, each of which is run depending on the value of a parameter.

Solution

Extract the individual parts of the method into their own methods and call them instead of the original method.

Before
void setValue(String name, int value) {
  if (name.equals("height")) {
    height = value;
    return;
  }
  if (name.equals("width")) {
    width = value;
    return;
  }
  Assert.shouldNeverReachHere();
}
After
void setHeight(int arg) {
  height = arg;
}
void setWidth(int arg) {
  width = arg;
}
Before
void SetValue(string name, int value) 
{
  if (name.Equals("height")) 
  {
    height = value;
    return;
  }
  if (name.Equals("width")) 
  {
    width = value;
    return;
  }
  Assert.Fail();
}
After
void SetHeight(int arg) 
{
  height = arg;
}
void SetWidth(int arg) 
{
  width = arg;
}
Before
function setValue($name, $value) {
  if ($name === "height") {
    $this->height = $value;
    return;
  }
  if ($name === "width") {
    $this->width = $value;
    return;
  }
  assert("Should never reach here");
}
After
function setHeight($arg) {
  $this->height = $arg;
}
function setWidth($arg) {
  $this->width = $arg;
}
Before
def output(self, name):
    if name == "banner"
        # Print the banner.
        # ...
    if name == "info"
        # Print the info.
        # ...
After
def outputBanner(self):
    # Print the banner.
    # ...

def outputInfo(self):
    # Print the info.
    # ...
Before
 setValue(name: string, value: number): void {
  if (name.equals("height")) {
    height = value;
    return;
  }
  if (name.equals("width")) {
    width = value;
    return;
  }
  
}
After
setHeight(arg: number): void {
  height = arg;
}
setWidth(arg: number): number {
  width = arg;
}

Why Refactor

A method containing parameter-dependent variants has grown massive. Non-trivial code is run in each branch and new variants are added very rarely.

Benefits

  • Improves code readability. It’s much easier to understand the purpose of startEngine() than setValue("engineEnabled", true).

When Not to Use

  • Don’t replace a parameter with explicit methods if a method is rarely changed and new variants aren’t added inside it.

How to Refactor

  1. For each variant of the method, create a separate method. Run these methods based on the value of a parameter in the main method.

  2. Find all places where the original method is called. In these places, place a call for one of the new parameter-dependent variants.

  3. When no calls to the original method remain, delete it.