Common vs Utilities

In the context of organizing a software project, the terms "Common" and "Utilities" are often used to categorize classes or files that are shared across various parts of an application. The usage of these terms can vary based on team and project conventions, but here are some general differences that are often applied:

Common: This folder is typically meant to hold components, such as classes, interfaces, data models, configurations, constants, and enums, that are shared across different layers or modules of the application. These are foundational parts of the application that have cross-cutting concerns and are widely used.

Utilities or Helpers: This folder is usually dedicated to classes and methods that provide utility functions, i.e., functions that perform commonly used tasks or operations that don't necessarily belong to any specific business domain, like string manipulation, date format conversion, encryption, etc. Utilities often operate more as standalone functions that assist with specific tasks, rather than being integral parts of the application's architecture.

That said, the exact distinction can vary, and in some projects, these two terms might be used interchangeably. It's important to come up with a file structure and naming convention that suits the particular needs and style of your project and team. Discuss and document these decisions to maintain consistency across the project, making it easier for all team members to navigate and understand the codebase.