# Long Method
## Overview
Method contains too many lines of code (typically >20-30 lines)
## Symptoms
- Method exceeds 20-30 lines
- Multiple levels of nesting
- Requires inline comments to explain sections
## Why It Matters
Bloater smells arise when a method, class, or parameter list grows to a size that makes it hard to read and maintain. As a **Bloater**, this smell degrades comprehensibility and increases the cognitive load required to understand even small changes.
Specifically, it violates the **Single Responsibility Principle (SRP)**, giving the construct more than one reason to change, and the **KISS principle** (Keep It Simple), adding unnecessary complexity.
## How to Fix
- **Extract Method** (`RF-001`)
- **Replace Temp With Query** (`RF-007`)
- **Replace Method With Method Object** (`RF-006`)
- **Decompose Conditional** (`RF-035`)
- **Replace Nested Conditional With Guard Clauses** (`RF-040`)
- **Substitute Algorithm** (`RF-009`)
## Connections
**Violates:** Single Responsibility Principle (`LAW-042-S`), Kiss (`LAW-041`)
**Resolved by refactoring:** Extract Method (`RF-001`), Replace Temp With Query (`RF-007`), Replace Method With Method Object (`RF-006`), Decompose Conditional (`RF-035`), Replace Nested Conditional With Guard Clauses (`RF-040`), Substitute Algorithm (`RF-009`)
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*Based on: Refactoring (Fowler, 1999)*