Refactoring Backend Student Screen: A Comprehensive Guide

Nov 29, 2025 by Alex Johnson 58 views

Refactoring is a crucial part of software development, ensuring that codebases remain maintainable, scalable, and efficient. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through the process of refactoring the backend student screen, focusing on key areas such as input corrections, error display, feedback implementation, and formatting for money, CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas - Brazilian individual taxpayer registry identification), and email fields. This refactoring process will be carried out on a new branch of the develop branch to ensure minimal disruption to the main codebase.

Why Refactor the Backend Student Screen?

Before diving into the specifics, it's important to understand why refactoring is necessary. Codebases evolve over time, and what might have been a suitable solution initially may become cumbersome and inefficient as new features are added and requirements change. Refactoring helps in:

Improving Code Readability: A well-refactored codebase is easier to understand, which reduces the cognitive load on developers and makes maintenance simpler.
Enhancing Maintainability: Refactoring reduces technical debt, making it easier to introduce changes and new features without breaking existing functionality.
Boosting Performance: Refactoring can identify and eliminate performance bottlenecks, leading to a more efficient application.
Ensuring Scalability: A refactored codebase is better positioned to handle increased load and complexity, ensuring the application can scale as needed.
Reducing Bugs: By simplifying and clarifying the code, refactoring can help uncover and eliminate bugs.

In the context of the backend student screen, refactoring addresses specific issues such as input validation, error handling, and data formatting, all of which are critical for ensuring data integrity and a smooth user experience. The issues highlighted—input corrections, error display, feedback implementation, and formatting for money, CPF, and email fields—are common pain points in many applications, making this refactoring effort particularly valuable.

Setting Up the Development Environment

Before starting the refactoring process, setting up the development environment correctly is crucial. This involves creating a new branch from the develop branch, ensuring that all changes are isolated from the main development line until they are thoroughly tested and approved.

Create a New Branch:

The first step is to create a new branch from the develop branch. This can be done using Git, the version control system widely used in software development. Open your terminal and navigate to your project directory, then run the following command:
```
git checkout -b feature/refactor-student-screen develop
```
This command creates a new branch named feature/refactor-student-screen and switches your local repository to this branch. The branch name should be descriptive, indicating the purpose of the branch.
Pull the Latest Changes:

Ensure your local develop branch is up-to-date before creating the new branch. This helps avoid conflicts later on. You can update your develop branch with the following commands:
```
git checkout develop
git pull origin develop
```
These commands switch to the develop branch and pull the latest changes from the remote repository.
Set Up the Development Environment:

Make sure you have all the necessary tools and dependencies installed. This may include:
- A suitable Integrated Development Environment (IDE) such as Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ IDEA, or Eclipse.
- The required programming language runtime (e.g., Node.js, Java, Python).
- Any necessary libraries and frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, Spring).
- A database system (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB).
Run the Application:

Before making any changes, run the application in your local environment. This ensures that you have a working baseline to compare against as you refactor. Follow the instructions in your project's README or documentation to start the application.
Set Up Testing Environment:

Ensure that you have a testing environment set up. This may involve configuring test databases, setting up testing frameworks (e.g., JUnit, Mocha, Jest), and ensuring that you can run tests easily. Automated tests are crucial for verifying that your refactoring efforts do not introduce new bugs.

By following these steps, you create a solid foundation for refactoring the backend student screen, ensuring that your changes are isolated, and you have a stable environment for development and testing.

Identifying and Correcting Input Issues

The first step in refactoring the backend student screen involves identifying and correcting issues related to input fields. These issues can range from simple cosmetic problems to more complex validation errors. Let's break down the specific problems mentioned and how to address them.

Removing Extra Spaces in Names

One common issue is the presence of extra spaces in the name fields. This can occur due to user error or inconsistencies in how the input is handled. Extra spaces can lead to data integrity issues and affect search and sorting operations. To address this, you can implement server-side validation to trim the input before storing it in the database. Here’s how you can approach it:

Server-Side Validation:

Implement validation logic in your backend code to trim the input. This can be done using the programming language's built-in functions or libraries. For example, in JavaScript, you can use the trim() method:
```
const name = inputName.trim();
```
In Java, you can use the trim() method as well:
```
String name = inputName.trim();
```
This ensures that any leading or trailing spaces are removed before the data is processed.
Database Constraints:

In addition to server-side validation, consider adding constraints at the database level to prevent the storage of names with leading or trailing spaces. This can serve as an additional layer of protection against data integrity issues.
Testing:

Write unit tests to verify that the trimming logic works as expected. Test cases should include names with leading spaces, trailing spaces, and multiple spaces between words.

Addressing the Red Error Input Display

The visual display of error messages is crucial for user experience. An error input field highlighted in red typically indicates a validation issue. However, if the display is inconsistent or incorrect, it can confuse users. Here’s how to fix the appearance of the red error input display:

CSS Styling:

Ensure that the CSS styling for error input fields is correctly applied. Check your CSS rules to make sure that the red highlighting is triggered only when there is a validation error. The styling might look something like this:
```
input.error {
  border: 1px solid red;
}
```
Make sure that the .error class is applied conditionally based on the validation status of the input field.
JavaScript Logic:

Implement JavaScript logic to dynamically add or remove the .error class based on the validation results. This ensures that the red highlighting appears only when necessary. For example:
```
const inputField = document.getElementById('name');
if (isValid(inputField.value)) {
  inputField.classList.remove('error');
} else {
  inputField.classList.add('error');
}
```
User Feedback:

Provide clear and concise error messages alongside the red highlighting. This helps users understand what went wrong and how to correct their input.

Implementing Feedback

Applying user feedback is a crucial part of improving any application. Feedback can come from various sources, including user testing, bug reports, and feature requests. Here’s how to effectively implement feedback in the refactoring process:

Gather Feedback:

Collect all available feedback related to the student screen. This might include comments on the user interface, suggestions for new features, and reports of bugs or usability issues.
Prioritize Feedback:

Prioritize the feedback based on its impact and feasibility. Focus on addressing critical issues and high-priority feature requests first.
Implement Changes:

Make the necessary changes to the codebase to address the feedback. This might involve modifying the user interface, adding new features, or fixing bugs.
Test Thoroughly:

Test the changes thoroughly to ensure that they address the feedback and do not introduce new issues. Automated tests and manual testing should both be used.
Get User Validation:

If possible, get feedback from users on the changes you’ve made. This can help ensure that the changes meet their needs and expectations.

By addressing these input issues, you can significantly improve the usability and data integrity of the backend student screen. The combination of server-side validation, CSS styling, JavaScript logic, and user feedback ensures that the input fields are robust, user-friendly, and reliable.

Applying Formatting to Money, CPF, and Email Fields

Data formatting is crucial for ensuring that the data stored in your application is consistent, valid, and user-friendly. For fields like money, CPF (Brazilian individual taxpayer registry identification), and email, specific formats must be enforced to maintain data integrity and comply with regulatory requirements. Here’s how to apply formatting to these fields:

Formatting Money Fields

Money fields should be formatted to display currency symbols, decimal separators, and thousand separators correctly. This makes the data more readable and helps prevent errors. Here’s how to implement money formatting:

Input Masking:

Use input masking libraries to guide users as they enter money values. Input masks ensure that the data is entered in the correct format from the start. Popular JavaScript libraries like cleave.js and Inputmask can be used for this purpose.
```
// Using cleave.js
new Cleave('.money-input', {
  numeral: true,
  numeralThousandsGroupStyle: 'thousand',
  numeralDecimalMark: ',',
  delimiter: '.',
  prefix: 'R$ ' // Brazilian Real currency symbol
});
```
Server-Side Formatting:

Apply formatting on the server-side as well to ensure that the data is stored in a consistent format. This can involve using the programming language's built-in formatting functions or libraries. For example, in Java, you can use the NumberFormat class:
```
NumberFormat currencyFormatter = NumberFormat.getCurrencyInstance(new Locale("pt", "BR"));
String formattedAmount = currencyFormatter.format(amount);
```
Validation:

Implement validation to ensure that the money values are within a reasonable range and adhere to the expected format. This can prevent data entry errors and ensure data integrity.

Formatting CPF Fields

The CPF is a crucial identification number in Brazil, and it must be formatted correctly to be valid. The standard format is XXX.XXX.XXX-XX. Here’s how to format CPF fields:

Input Masking:

Use input masking to guide users in entering the CPF in the correct format. This helps prevent errors and ensures that the data is entered consistently.
```
// Using Inputmask
Inputmask("999.999.999-99").mask(document.querySelector("#cpf"));
```
Validation:

Implement validation to ensure that the entered CPF is a valid number. This can involve checking the format and using a validation algorithm to verify the digits. There are several libraries available that can help with CPF validation.
```
function isValidCPF(cpf) {
  cpf = cpf.replace(/[^\]/g, '');
  if (cpf.length != 11) {
    return false;
  }
  // Validation logic here
  return true;
}
```
Storage Format:

Store the CPF in the database without formatting characters to simplify querying and comparison. Apply formatting only when displaying the data.

Formatting Email Fields

Email fields should be formatted and validated to ensure that they are valid email addresses. This helps prevent errors and ensures that communication can be sent effectively. Here’s how to format email fields:

Input Masking (Optional):

While not strictly required, you can use input masking to guide users in entering email addresses. However, email addresses have a flexible format, so masking may not be as effective as for money or CPF fields.

Validation:

Implement validation to ensure that the entered email address is in a valid format. This can involve using regular expressions or built-in validation functions. For example, in HTML5, you can use the email input type:

<input type="email" id="email" name="email">

You can also use JavaScript to perform more complex validation:

function isValidEmail(email) {
  const emailRegex = /^(([^<>()${}$\\.,;:\s@"]+(\.[^<>()${}$\\.,;:\s@"]+)*)|(".+"))@((${[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}}$)|(([a-zA-Z\-0-9]+\.)+[a-zA-Z]{2,}))$/;
  return emailRegex.test(String(email).toLowerCase());
}

Normalization:

Normalize the email address by converting it to lowercase. This ensures consistency and prevents issues with case-sensitive comparisons.

By applying these formatting and validation techniques, you can ensure that the data entered into the student screen is accurate, consistent, and user-friendly. This improves the overall quality of the application and reduces the risk of data-related issues.

Conclusion

Refactoring the backend student screen involves a series of crucial steps, from setting up the development environment to addressing specific issues like input corrections, error display, feedback implementation, and data formatting. By following a systematic approach and focusing on key areas, you can significantly improve the codebase's quality, maintainability, and scalability.

Remember to prioritize code readability, implement robust validation techniques, and continuously seek user feedback to ensure that the application meets their needs. This comprehensive guide provides a solid foundation for refactoring efforts, helping you create a more efficient and user-friendly system.

For further information on best practices in software development and refactoring, you can explore resources like Refactoring.Guru.