Once you see a definitive pattern, refactor it into a shared function or class. 3. How to Fix Duplication
A common guideline to avoid premature abstraction is the : First time: Just solve the problem. Second time: Tolerate the duplication (copy-paste). duplication
In software development, occurs when the same logic or data is repeated across multiple parts of a codebase . While often viewed as a "code smell" that increases technical debt, strategic duplication can sometimes be better than a poorly designed abstraction. 1. Types of Duplication Once you see a definitive pattern, refactor it
Two pieces of code look the same now but represent different business concepts that will eventually diverge. 2. The "Rule of Three" Strategy Second time: Tolerate the duplication (copy-paste)
When you've identified harmful duplication, follow these steps to consolidate it safely:
What Is Code Duplication? Best Tools to Detect & Fix It in 2026