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Side effect

Anything a function changes or does beyond returning a value, such as editing its input, writing to a database or sending a request.

Say it to an AI

Python module statements.py for our ledger: build_statement(account_id, month) that uses fetch_transactions for the DB query and calculate_monthly_interest for the math. Use verb-noun naming for every function, nouns only for data, so any side effect like a query is obvious from the name.

How an expert would brief the stronger version of “Monthly statement”.

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Try it as a puzzle →

Python module in a fintech app that builds a customer's monthly account statement.

Study A · the stronger one
Study B · the weaker one

Why: A's fetch_ warns you that a database call happens; B's transactions() hides a query behind a name that looks like plain data.

More ways experts use it

  • Python pure function order_total(items, delivery_fee, promo=None) that returns the total in integer cents with a 5% service fee rounded to a whole cent. No side effects: don't mutate items or the order, no globals; handle the FREEDEL promo inside and keep it deterministic so it's trivially unit-testable.

    Order total · Code & architecture
  • Python function book_shipment(order, weight_kg, postcode). Fail fast: guard clauses at the top validate the weight (0–1000 kg) and the UK postcode and raise ValidationError before any side effects, like reserving a truck slot or creating the carrier label.

    Shipment booking · Code & architecture

Related words

  • Intention-revealing name
  • Magic number
  • Single responsibility principle
  • Boolean
  • Predicate
  • is/has/can prefix
  • Flag argument
  • Abbreviation

Room 2 · Naming

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