# Effective Kotlin Item 20: Do not repeat common algorithms

DevFeed: [Effective Kotlin Item 20: Do not repeat common algorithms](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/effective-kotlin-item-20-do-not-repeat-common-algorithms-39294.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://kt.academy/article/ek-utils>)

Published: 2024-01-29T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Kt. Academy](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/kt-academy.md>)

Topics: [Programming](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/programming.md>), [Algorithms](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/algorithms.md>), [functions](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/functions.md>), [Kotlin](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/kotlin.md>)

Tags: [algorithms](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/algorithms.md>), [business-logic](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/business-logic.md>), [functions](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/functions.md>), [kotlin](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/kotlin.md>), [optimization](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/optimization.md>), [sorting](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/sorting.md>), [standard-library](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/standard-library.md>), [workshop-learning-programming](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/workshop-learning-programming.md>)

## AI overview

This Effective Kotlin article explains why developers should extract common, non-project-specific algorithms into named utility functions or libraries. It argues that reuse improves programming speed, readability, maintenance, and consistency, while reducing noise and repeated implementation. The article recommends learning and using standard-library functions where appropriate.

## Source excerpt

Why extracting utility functions is so important for our programs.