Use visually distinct identifiers to eliminate errors resulting from misrecognizing the spelling of an identifier during the development and review of code. Depending on the fonts used, certain characters are visually similar or even identical:

• '1' (one) and 'l' (lower case el)
• '0' (zero) and 'O' (capital o)
• '2' (two) and 'Z' (capital Z)
• '5' (five) and 'S' (capital S)
• '8' (eight) and 'B' (capital B)

Do not define multiple identifiers that vary only with respect to one or more visually similar characters.

When using long identifiers, try to make the initial portions of the identifiers unique for easier recognition. This also helps prevent errors resulting from non-unique identifiers (see DCL32-C. Guarantee that mutually visible identifiers are unique).

Risk Analysis

Failing to use visually distinct identifiers can result in the wrong variable being used, causing unexpected program behavior.

Automated Detection

Compass/ROSE can detect violations of this rule.

Related Vulnerabilities

Search for vulnerabilities resulting from the violation of this rule on the CERT website.

References

\[[ISO/IEC 9899:1999|AA. C References#ISO/IEC 9899-1999]\] Section 5.2.4.1, "Translation limits"
\[[ISO/IEC PDTR 24772|AA. C References#ISO/IEC PDTR 24772]\] "AJN Choice of Filenames and other External Identifiers," "BRS Leveraging human experience," and "NAI Choice of Clear Names"
\[[MISRA 04|AA. C References#MISRA 04]\] Rule 5.6

      02. Declarations and Initialization (DCL)