How do you write code that is both fast and easy to read?

2 Follow coding standards and conventions

The second step to write fast and readable code is to follow coding standards and conventions that are widely accepted and consistent in your language and domain. Coding standards and conventions are rules and guidelines that define how to write, format, structure, and document your code. They help to make your code more uniform, clear, and easy to understand for yourself and others. For example, you should use meaningful and consistent names for your variables, functions, classes, and files, follow the indentation and spacing rules of your language, use comments and docstrings to explain your logic and purpose, and organize your code into modules and functions that have a single responsibility.

3 Optimize your algorithms and data structures

The third step to write fast and readable code is to optimize your algorithms and data structures that are used to solve your problems. Algorithms and data structures are the core components of your code that define how you manipulate, store, and access your data. They have a significant impact on the speed, memory usage, and complexity of your code. Therefore, you should choose the most appropriate and efficient algorithms and data structures for your task, and avoid unnecessary or redundant calculations, loops, or operations. For example, you should use a hash table instead of a list if you need to perform frequent lookups, or use a binary search instead of a linear search if you need to find an element in a sorted array.

4 Test and debug your code

The fourth step to write fast and readable code is to test and debug your code regularly and thoroughly. Testing and debugging are essential processes that help you to find and fix errors, bugs, and inefficiencies in your code. They help to improve the quality, reliability, and security of your code. Therefore, you should use tools and techniques that help you to test and debug your code effectively and efficiently. For example, you should use unit tests, integration tests, and regression tests to verify the functionality and correctness of your code, use code analysis tools and profilers to measure the performance and resource usage of your code, and use debuggers and logging tools to trace and monitor the execution and behavior of your code.

5 Refactor and review your code

The fifth step to write fast and readable code is to refactor and review your code periodically and systematically. Refactoring and reviewing are practices that help you to improve the design, structure, and readability of your code. They help to make your code more modular, reusable, and maintainable. Therefore, you should use principles and patterns that help you to refactor and review your code effectively and efficiently. For example, you should use the DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) principle to avoid duplication and redundancy in your code, use the SOLID principles to ensure that your code follows the object-oriented design principles, and use the code review process to get feedback and suggestions from your peers or mentors.

6 Learn from others

The sixth and final step to write fast and readable code is to learn from others who have more experience and expertise in your field or domain. Learning from others is a great way to expand your knowledge, skills, and perspectives on how to write fast and readable code. You can learn from others by reading their code, following their blogs or tutorials, watching their videos or podcasts, joining their communities or forums, or asking them questions or advice. By learning from others, you can discover new tips, tricks, techniques, tools, or best practices that can help you to write better code.