Google app script is a programming language that works inside the Google Chrome browser. It is up to you to determine what type of information is on your website, so your own variables need to reflect this as much as possible. Making up variable names can be difficult; especially when it comes to foreign words or phrases. In this blog article, I break down tips for creating Google App Script variable names and some examples of bad and good variable names.
What is a Variable Name?
Google App Script variables are essential for developing scripts that can interact with Google Analytics and other Google services. Variable names should be easy to remember and meaningful to your script’s overall purpose. The App Script language allows for up to 256 characters in variable names, so long as they are lowercase, without spaces, and only contain letters, digits, and the underscore character (_). Here’s a list of some common variable name patterns to get you started:
Google App Script Standard
One of the benefits of using Google App Script is that you can access a lot of functionality through variables. You can store data and make calls to different functions by passing in a variable as a parameter.
To help you get started, here are some variable names you might use in your scripts:
– appName – The name of the app being executed
– date – The current date as a string (yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss)
– userAgent – The user agent of the browser or device used to access the script
– GPS_Loc Latitude – The location’s latitude as a decimal value (e.g. 37.43200)
– GPS_Loc Longitude – The location’s longitude as a decimal value (e.g. -122.32000)
Types of Variable Names
Variable names in Google App Script are case-sensitive. This means that a variable named “Foo” will not be interpreted by the app script interpreter as a variable named “FOO”. Variable names can contain letters and numbers, but must start with a letter. The following are some of the most common types of variable names:
-String: A string is a sequence of characters that can be used in expressions. String variables can contain any characters, including special characters like underscores (_). Strings are enclosed within quotation marks (“”). For example, to declare and store the value “Hello World!” in a string variable, you could use the following code: “Hello World!”
-Number: A number is simply an integer or decimal value. Number variables can store any number, including negative values. To declare and store the value -5 in a number variable, you could use the following code: new Number(5).
-Boolean: A boolean is simply a flag that indicates if something is true or false. Boolean variables can either be set to true or false. To declare and store the value false in a boolean variable, you could use the following code: new Boolean
Tips for Choosing a Good Name
There are plenty of naming conventions to choose from when creating variables in Google App Script, but it’s important to find a name that accurately reflects the data stored in the variable. Here are some tips for choosing a good variable name:
-Make sure the name is descriptive: The name of the variable should accurately reflect the data stored within it. For example, “customerId” reflects information about a customer, such as their customer ID number.
-Choose a meaningful abbreviation: Abbreviate longer names if they’re already difficult to remember or type. For example, “cid” is a good abbreviation for “customer id.”
-Use numerals and letters: Use numerals and letters to make it easier to understand the data stored in the variable. For example, “var_AGE” would be an appropriate name for a variable that stores age information.
Window Variables
Google App Script window variables allow you to store configuration information and track application state, such as the current page. You can also use window variables to pass data between pages in your application.
Conclusion
Google App Script is an incredibly versatile programming language that can be used to create a wide variety of applications. One of the coolest things about App Script is that it allows you to define your own variable names, which can make developing your app much easier. If you’re not familiar with Google App Script, or want to brush up on your skills, take a look at our guide to Google App Script variable names for some tips on how to name variables appropriately.