What is the proper naming convention for member variables?

The proper naming convention for member variables in programming, particularly in Java which is the primary language used in Guidewire, follows the lowerCamelCase style with a leading underscore. This convention promotes readability by indicating variable names start with a lowercase letter and capitalize the first letter of subsequent words.

The leading underscore specifically suggests that the variable is a member of a class, differentiating it from local variables and function parameters. This practice makes it easier for developers to identify the scope and purpose of variables within the code, enhancing maintainability and collaboration among team members.

Other conventions mentioned do not align with best practices. UpperCamelCase is typically reserved for class names or other types rather than member variables. Snake_case, while popular in some languages like Python, is less common in Java and Guidewire projects. All lowercase naming conventions do not provide sufficient readability, especially when a variable name consists of multiple words. Hence, using lowerCamelCase with a leading underscore is the accepted standard for naming member variables.