How to name a variable: numItems or itemCount?

Question

What is the right way to name a variable

int numItems;

vs.

int itemCount;

or constant:

public         


        

Answer 1

For Java I would use itemCount and MAX_ITEM_COUNT. For Ruby, item_count and MAX_ITEM_COUNT. I tend not to use names that can be interpreted wrongly (numItems may be a shortcut for numerate_items or number_of_items), hence my choice. Whatever you decide, use it constantly.