what is refactoring code

Code refactoring is the process of restructuring existing computer code without changing its external behavior. The goal of refactoring is to improve the design, structure, and implementation of software, making it easier to maintain and reducing technical debt. Refactoring can help improve code readability, reduce complexity, and find bugs or vulnerabilities hidden in the software. Refactoring can be performed after a product has been deployed, before adding updates and new features to existing code, or as a part of day-to-day programming. The process of refactoring involves making many small changes to a programs source code, with each change preserving the softwares original behavior and not modifying its external behavior. Refactoring can be done using a series of standardized basic micro-refactorings, which are tiny changes in a computer programs source code. Code smells are indicators of problems that can be addressed during refactoring. Refactoring techniques describe actual refactoring steps, and most refactoring techniques have their pros and cons. Refactoring should be done in small steps and before adding any new functionality or features to the solution.