In this section, we will cover the best practices and conventions for writing clean, readable, and maintainable Ruby code. Adhering to a consistent style not only makes your code easier to read and understand but also helps in collaborative environments where multiple developers work on the same codebase.

• Readability: Consistent style makes it easier for others (and yourself) to read and understand the code.
• Maintainability: Clean code is easier to maintain and extend.
• Collaboration: Following a common style guide ensures that all team members write code in a similar manner, reducing friction in collaborative projects.
• Bug Reduction: Clear and consistent code can help in identifying and fixing bugs more efficiently.

• Variables and Methods: Use snake_case for variable and method names.

  user_name = "John Doe"
  def calculate_total(price, tax)
    price + tax
  end
  

• Classes and Modules: Use CamelCase for class and module names.

  class UserAccount
    # class implementation
  end
  
  module PaymentGateway
    # module implementation
  end
  

• Constants: Use ALL_CAPS for constants.

  MAX_USERS = 100
  

• Indentation: Use 2 spaces per indentation level. Avoid using tabs.

  def example_method
    if condition
      do_something
    else
      do_something_else
    end
  end
  

• Spacing: Use spaces around operators and after commas, colons, and semicolons.

  total = price + tax
  array = [1, 2, 3, 4]
  

• Line Length: Limit lines to a maximum of 80 characters. If a line exceeds this limit, consider breaking it into multiple lines.

  def some_long_method_name(argument_one, argument_two, argument_three)
    # method implementation
  end
  

• Method Definitions: Use a consistent style for defining methods.

  def method_name(argument_one, argument_two)
    # method implementation
  end
  

• Conditionals: Use a consistent style for writing conditionals.

  if condition
    # do something
  elsif another_condition
    # do something else
  else
    # do something different
  end
  

• Ternary Operator: Use the ternary operator for simple conditional assignments.

  result = condition ? 'true' : 'false'
  

• Blocks: Use {} for single-line blocks and do...end for multi-line blocks.

  # Single-line block
  array.each { |element| puts element }
  
  # Multi-line block
  array.each do |element|
    puts element
    # additional code
  end
  

• Comments: Use comments to explain the purpose of the code. Avoid redundant comments.

  # Calculate the total price including tax
  total_price = price + tax
  

• String Literals: Use double quotes for strings that require interpolation or special symbols, and single quotes for plain strings.

  name = "John Doe"
  greeting = 'Hello, world!'
  

Refactor the following code snippet to adhere to the Ruby style guide:

• Inconsistent Naming: Ensure that you consistently use snake_case for variables and methods, and CamelCase for classes and modules.
• Improper Indentation: Always use 2 spaces for indentation. Avoid mixing spaces and tabs.
• Long Lines: Break down long lines of code to maintain readability.
• Redundant Comments: Avoid comments that state the obvious. Use comments to explain the "why" rather than the "what".

Adhering to code style and conventions is crucial for writing clean, readable, and maintainable Ruby code. By following the guidelines outlined in this section, you will be able to write code that is not only easier to understand but also easier to maintain and collaborate on. In the next section, we will delve into the topic of refactoring, which will help you improve the structure and quality of your code even further.