10.6. How to Name System Events and Operations?
Which is better, scan(itemID) or enterItem(itemID) ?System events should be expressed at the abstract level of intention rather than in terms of the physical input device.Thus "enterItem" is better than "scan" (that is, laser scan) because it captures the intent of the operation while remaining abstract and noncommittal with respect to design choices about what interface is used to capture the system event. It could by via laser scanner, keyboard, voice input, or anything.It also improves clarity to start the name of a system event with a verb (add…, enter…, end…, make…), as in Figure 10.4, since it emphasizes these are commands or requests.