Introduction
Code reviews are essential for maintaining code quality in Java projects. They help teams identify bugs early, ensure maintainability, and enforce coding standards.
But without a checklist, reviews can become inconsistent. That’s why having a Java code review checklist makes the process smoother, more objective, and more effective.
In this guide, we’ll cover a complete Java code review checklist with examples.
✅ 1. Java Code Readability and Style
✔ Follow Java naming conventions, classes start with uppercase, methods & variables start with lowercase)(CamelCase for classes, camelCase for methods/variables).
✔ Use meaningful names (calculateInvoiceTotal > calcInv).
✔ Maintain consistent indentation and formatting.
✔ Avoid long methods (keep them focused).
📌 Example:
// ❌ Bad
public void p(int a, int b){int c=a+b;System.out.println(c);}
// ✅ Good
public void printSum(int number1, int number2) {
int sum = number1 + number2;
System.out.println(sum);
}
✅ 2. Object-Oriented Design Principles
✔ Ensure encapsulation (use private fields with getters/setters when necessary).
✔ Apply SOLID principles (especially Single Responsibility Principle).
✔ Prefer composition over inheritance.
📌 Example:
// ❌ Bad: unnecessary inheritance
class ElectricCar extends Engine { }
// ✅ Good: composition
class ElectricCar {
private Engine engine;
}
✅ 3. Exception Handling in Java
✔ Don’t swallow exceptions (avoid empty catch blocks).
✔ Use specific exceptions instead of catching Exception.
✔ Add meaningful error messages.
✔ Consider custom exceptions when applicable.
📌 Example:
// ❌ Bad
try {
processOrder();
} catch (Exception e) {
// ignored
}
// ✅ Good
try {
processOrder();
} catch (IOException e) {
log.error("Order processing failed due to IO issue", e);
}
✅ 4. Java Performance Best Practices
✔ Avoid creating unnecessary objects inside loops.
✔ Use StringBuilder for concatenation in loops.
✔ Be mindful of Streams API performance.
✔ Close database connections and streams properly.
📌 Example:
// ❌ Bad
String result = "";
for (String word : words) {
result += word;
}
// ✅ Good
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
for (String word : words) {
sb.append(word);
}
String result = sb.toString();
✅ 5. Java Security Checklist
✔ Never hardcode credentials or API keys.
✔ Validate all user inputs.
✔ Use PreparedStatement to prevent SQL Injection.
✔ Avoid logging sensitive information.
✅ 6. Testing and Maintainability
✔ Check for unit test coverage (JUnit, Mockito).
✔ Use meaningful test method names.
✔ Test edge cases and boundary values.
✔ Ensure code is modular and refactor-friendly.
📌 Example:
@test
void shouldReturnEmptyListWhenNoUsersFound() {
List users = userService.findUsersByRole("ADMIN");
assertTrue(users.isEmpty());
}
✅ 7. Dependency and Build Management
✔ Remove unused imports and dependencies.
✔ Keep dependencies updated (but stable).
✔ Avoid circular dependencies.
✔ Document external libraries in use.
🎯 Conclusion
A proper Java code review checklist ensures code is:
Readable and consistent
Secure and reliable
Performant and maintainable
By applying these best practices, your Java team can improve collaboration, reduce bugs, and deliver higher-quality software.
🛠️ Check out SonarLint for automated Java code quality checks
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