When refactoring, what practice should be avoided?

Making large, sweeping changes all at once during refactoring can lead to several challenges. This approach often increases the risk of introducing bugs, as it can be difficult to identify the source of any issues that arise from such extensive modifications. Refactoring aims to improve the internal structure of code without altering its external behavior; thus, incremental changes allow developers to isolate and test their adjustments step by step.

By making smaller modifications, developers can ensure that each change maintains the functionality of the application and that any problems can be traced back to a specific change. This practice reinforces the principle of continuous integration, allowing for regular testing and validation of the codebase. Also, it fosters a better understanding of the impact of each change, which is essential for maintaining code quality over time. In essence, the goal of refactoring is to enhance code maintainability and readability while minimizing risks associated with software evolution.