- Eclipse, an editor for writing programs, has a “refactor” menu options, whose submenu contains options like rename function, move code to different file,etc.
refactor
verb; compounding
A type of reorganization of a section of computer code where other sections referencing the current section must be changed in order for the final result to make sense (renaming a function). Usually a fairly mechanical procedure. Factoring an algebra expression is an analagous procedure that reorganizes the expression to say the same thing in a different way. In the course of factoring, the entire expression must be re-written (you cannot just simply add a factor in front). The term “refactor” logically extends this notion from math to computer programming.
Etymology : re+fact+or
Source : Eclipse editing program
Last modified: 10 June 2008