Status Codes

Named status values make success and failure paths easier to read.

status_codes.c

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void) {
    const int STATUS_OK = 0;
    const int STATUS_EMPTY = 1;
    int count = ;
    int status = STATUS_OK;
    int average = 0;

    if (count == 0) {
        status = STATUS_EMPTY;
    } else {
        average = 30 / count;
    }

    printf("status=%d average=%d\n", status, average);
    return 0;
}

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void) {
    const int STATUS_OK = 0;
    const int STATUS_EMPTY = 1;
    int count = ;
    int status = STATUS_OK;
    int average = 0;

    if (count == 0) {
        status = STATUS_EMPTY;
    } else {
        average = 30 / count;
    }

    printf("status=%d average=%d\n", status, average);
    return 0;
}

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void) {
    const int STATUS_OK = 0;
    const int STATUS_EMPTY = 1;
    int count = ;
    int status = STATUS_OK;
    int average = 0;

    if (count == 0) {
        status = STATUS_EMPTY;
    } else {
        average = 30 / count;
    }

    printf("status=%d average=%d\n", status, average);
    return 0;
}

named codes Constants give status numbers readable names.

branch result The final branch can translate the status into the value the caller needs.