<!DOCTYPE qhelp PUBLIC

"-//Semmle//qhelp//EN"

"qhelp.dtd">

<qhelp>

<overview>

<p>

A class that contains a high number of fields may indicate the following problems:

</p>

<ul>

<li>The class may be too big or have too many responsibilities.</li>

<li>Several of the fields may be part of the same abstraction.</li>

</ul>

</overview>

<recommendation>

<p>

The solution depends on the reason for the high number of fields:

</p>

<ul>

<li>

If the class is too big, you should split it into multiple smaller classes.

</li>

<li>

If several of the fields are part of the same abstraction, you should

group them into a separate class, using the 'Extract Class' refactoring described

in [Fowler].

</li>

</ul>

</recommendation>

<example>

<p>In the following example, class <code>Person</code> contains a number of fields.</p>

<sample src="TNumberOfFields.java" />

<p>

This can be refactored by grouping fields that are part of the same abstraction into new classes

<code>Name</code> and <code>Address</code>.</p>

<sample src="TNumberOfFieldsGood.java" />

</example>

<references>

<li>

M. Fowler, <em>Refactoring</em>. Addison-Wesley, 1999.

</li>

</references>

</qhelp>