Refactoring

The process of restructuring existing code without changing its external behavior, with the goal of improving readability, maintainability, and design. Refactoring is distinct from bug fixing (which changes behavior) and adding features (which adds behavior). Common refactoring activities include renaming variables for clarity, extracting methods, eliminating duplication, and simplifying complex logic. Refactoring is most safe when paired with comprehensive automated tests that confirm behavior is preserved after each change. In agile teams, refactoring is treated as continuous and routine — woven into everyday development — rather than a separate, deferred activity. It is a primary strategy for managing and reducing technical debt.