Prioritize code readability over clever solutions by:

  1. Using early returns to reduce nesting
  2. Leveraging modern PHP features when they improve clarity
  3. Maintaining consistent style patterns
  4. Simplifying complex logic

Example - Before:

protected function parseIds($value)
{
    if (is_null($value)) {
        return [];
    }

    if (is_string($value)) {
        return array_map('trim', explode(',', $value));
    }

    check_type($value, 'array', $key, 'Environment');

    return $value;
}

Example - After:

protected function parseIds($value)
{
    return match (true) {
        $value === null => [],
        is_string($value) => array_map('trim', explode(',', $value)),
        default => check_type($value, 'array', $key, 'Environment'),
    };
}

The improved version:

Choose simpler constructs when they improve readability, but avoid sacrificing clarity for brevity. The goal is to write code that is easy to understand and maintain.