What is the best way to improve the readability and maintainability of a complex function?

Decomposing a complex function into smaller, more focused functions is highly effective for improving both readability and maintainability. This approach aligns with the principle of single responsibility, where each smaller function accomplishes a specific task. Such granularity makes it easier for developers to understand what each piece of code does without wading through unrelated logic.

When functions are concise and focused, they can be more easily tested and reused, which facilitates both debugging and future development. Additionally, smaller functions often require less cognitive load to comprehend, which can enhance collaboration among team members who may have varying familiarity with the codebase.

Other approaches, like adding more comments or changing the function’s name, may improve understanding to some extent but do not fundamentally restructure the code for better maintainability. Moving the function to a different module could complicate the architecture without necessarily enhancing its readability or maintainability, as it still does not address the complexity within the function itself. Decomposing the function directly tackles the source of complexity, making it the most effective solution.