Kebab Case: What It Is and How It Works

Have you ever come across the term “kebab case” and wondered what it means? In the world of programming and web development, kebab case is a popular naming convention that can make a big difference in the readability and organization of your code. WordPress even has functions related to kebab case like _wp_to_kebab_case().

In this post, we’ll dive into the specifics of kebab case, its usage, and its benefits.

What is Kebab Case?

Kebab case is a naming convention where multi-word identifiers are formed by removing spaces between words and replacing them with a hyphen (“-“). For example, “User Name” would be written as “user-name” in kebab case. This naming convention is commonly used in programming languages, CSS, and for creating URLs. The WordPress permalink structure uses kebab case for URLs as well.

Examples of kebab case in action:

• My String -> “my-string”
• Reasons to build a blog -> “reasons-to-build-a-blog”
• SCRIPTLOADER -> “scriptloader”

How Does Kebab Case Work?

When using kebab case, each word is entirely in lowercase, and the hyphen serves as a clear separator between the words. You can use an online tool to lowercase text and add hyphens if you need a quick one off string converted. This convention helps improve the readability of variable names, class names, and IDs in code. For instance, in HTML and CSS, kebab case is often used for naming classes and IDs to ensure consistency and clarity.

The Benefits of Kebab Case

One of the primary benefits of using kebab case is its readability. It makes it easier for developers to quickly understand the purpose of a variable or identifier. Additionally, kebab case is also favored for creating URLs that are more user-friendly and accessible for search engines.

Kebab Case vs. Other Naming Conventions

While kebab case is a fantastic choice in many situations, especially on the web, it’s helpful to know it’s not the only naming style out there. Understanding how it differs from other common conventions can help you know when and where to use each one effectively.

Let’s look at a few popular alternatives:

• Camel Case (camelCase): In this style, the first word starts with a lowercase letter, and subsequent words begin with an uppercase letter, with no spaces or hyphens. Example: userNameInput. Camel case is very common in JavaScript for variable and function names.
• Pascal Case (PascalCase): Also known as Upper Camel Case, this is similar to camel case, but the first word also starts with an uppercase letter. Example: UserLoginStatus. This convention is often used for naming classes or components in various programming languages.
• Snake Case (snake_case): Here, words are separated by an underscore (_) instead of a hyphen, and are typically all lowercase. Example: user_login_status. Snake case is frequently seen in languages like Python and Ruby, and is also common in database naming conventions (like table or column names).

When to Choose Which?

So, why choose kebab-case over camelCase or snake_case? As mentioned earlier, kebab case really shines in web contexts:

• URLs: Hyphens are treated as word separators by search engines, making my-awesome-page more SEO-friendly than myawesomepage.
• CSS: It’s the standard convention for CSS class (.main-content) and ID (#primary-button) names, improving readability in stylesheets.
• HTML: Often used for custom attributes like data-user-id.

Conclusion

In conclusion, kebab case is a simple yet effective naming convention that plays a significant role in maintaining clean and understandable code. By incorporating kebab case into your coding practices, you can enhance the readability and organization of your projects while also improving the user experience. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting on your coding journey, understanding and implementing kebab case can undoubtedly elevate the quality of your work.