What is hard coding?

Hard coding refers to the practice of embedding fixed values directly into a program's source code, rather than using variables or configuration files. This approach can make the code less flexible and harder to maintain, as any changes to the hardcoded values require manual updates to the source code.

Some common examples of hard coding include specifying file paths, database connection details, and user interface text directly in the code. While hard coding can be a quick and easy solution in some cases, it is generally considered a bad practice in software development.

To avoid hard coding, developers often use configuration files, environment variables, or external data sources to store and retrieve variable values. This allows for easier customization and maintenance of the code, as well as better separation of concerns.