Refactoring code can lead to which of the following improvements?

Refactoring code is a systematic process of restructuring existing code without changing its external behavior. One of the primary benefits of refactoring is enhanced maintainability. This improvement comes from organizing code in a way that makes it easier for developers to understand, modify, and extend over time. By breaking down complex routines into simpler, smaller functions, improving naming conventions, and removing redundancy, the clarity of the code is greatly improved. This allows developers to address bugs and add new features with less risk of introducing errors.

Enhanced maintainability also includes the ability to onboard new team members more quickly, as well-structured code tends to have a lower cognitive load for new developers. Overall, the practice of refactoring leads to a codebase that is more robust, easier to navigate, and more adaptable to change, which are all critical aspects of software development as projects evolve and grow over time.