What are the best practices for using class variables in programming?

What are the best practices for using class variables in programming?

Class variables should be used sparingly. It's best to limit their use to constants or shared data that all instances need.

Can you explain why it's important to limit the use of class variables?

Limiting class variables helps prevent unintended side effects and makes your code easier to understand and maintain.

What are some common mistakes developers make with class variables?

Common mistakes include overusing them, not initializing them properly, and failing to consider thread safety in multi-threaded applications.

How can I ensure thread safety when using class variables?

You can use synchronization mechanisms like locks or use thread-safe data structures to manage access to class variables.