Code Formatter¶

A code formatter is an automated tool that apply coding conventions to the source code.

It may, for example, move the opening bracket of a block on the name of the signature or below; it may add a space between a cast operator and its expression; etc.

Code formatters modifies the presentation of the code, and do not change the underlying execution of it: although, some of the coding conventions may cross that line. For example, rewriting != clauses to == in ifthen usually leads to voluminous modifications.

Some code formatters only report specifications violations. Others apply corrections automatically.

Popular coding conventions are PSR-12, or per framework, such as Symfony Coding Standard, CakePHP, CodeIgniter, Wordpress, etc.

<?php

    // two distinct coding conventions.
    function foo() { return 1; }

    function goo()
    {
        return 2;
    }

?>

Code Formatter¶

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