Definition
Refactoring is the process of restructuring existing computer code without changing its external behavior. It involves improving the internal structure of software to make it more understandable, maintainable, and efficient. This is achieved by making small, incremental changes to the code's design, logic, or organization. Refactoring is crucial for reducing technical debt, enhancing code quality, and making future development efforts smoother and less prone to errors. For instance, renaming a variable to be more descriptive or extracting a complex method into a separate function are common refactoring activities. Unlike rewriting code from scratch, refactoring aims to preserve functionality while improving its underlying structure. This concept is frequently encountered in agile methodologies and is tested on exams like the PMP, CAPM, and PMI-ACP.