What is the primary value of refactoring code?

The primary value of refactoring code lies in its ability to improve readability and maintainability. When developers refactor, they restructure existing code without changing its external behavior. This practice makes the code easier to understand and navigate, which is crucial for collaboration among team members and for onboarding new developers.

Readable code allows developers to quickly grasp the logic and flow of a program, reducing the cognitive load when making changes or fixing bugs. Moreover, maintainable code is easier to modify, extend, or adapt to new requirements over time, which can significantly decrease the time and effort required for future development.

While other aspects such as making the code look modern can be a benefit, they are not the primary focus of refactoring. Increasing file size and improving compile time are generally not goals associated with refactoring; rather, the intent is to streamline and optimize the existing code structure. Thus, the essence of refactoring is deeply rooted in enhancing the quality of the codebase through improved readability and maintainability.