When people hear “naming conventions,” they often roll their eyes.
“It’s just naming stuff. Let’s move on.”
But here is the truth: naming conventions are not just about appearance. They are about architecture.
In Power Platform, we build solutions with many moving parts. Flows, tables, apps, environments, pipelines, and AI agents. Every piece needs to connect. Every piece needs to make sense over time. That is where naming becomes critical.
The Illusion of “Just Naming”
Think of a Power Automate flow where every action is called “Compose 3,” “Apply to each 2,” or just “Condition.”
Now imagine trying to debug that.
Or onboarding someone new to work on it.
Or scaling the solution across teams and environments.
This is not just inconvenient. It slows you down.
Bad naming creates friction at every stage: building, testing, deployment, monitoring, and support.
Naming Is a Communication Layer
Good naming is not about making your app or flow look tidy. It is about communicating what it does.
When you name things clearly, you reduce the need for extra documentation. The logic becomes self-explanatory. That helps your future self and everyone else who touches the solution.
Naming is a shared language. It acts as an interface. Just like schema definitions.
In Low-Code, Naming Is the Logic
In Power Platform, there is no code file to fall back on. The names you give things are what define and explain your logic.
That means:
- Flow names define their business purpose
- Action names guide how each step works
- Control and screen names shape the UI
- Variable and component names describe your data and structure
If your naming is unclear, everything becomes harder to maintain and scale.
What Works in Practice
Here are five naming principles that consistently improve clarity and structure in real-world Power Platform solutions.
1. Be Descriptive, Not Just Concise
Avoid naming a flow CustomerSync or an input control TextInput1.
Instead, use something like SyncCustomerToCRM_WhenRecordCreated or txt_CustomerEmail.
This gives you:
- Clarity on purpose
- Better filtering and search
- Faster onboarding for new team members
2. Use Consistent Prefixes (Power Apps)
In Power Apps, consistent prefixes help you instantly recognize what kind of object you’re working with. This improves readability, especially in complex apps.
Screens
scr_Homescr_WorkOrderDetailsscr_AdminPanel
Controls
btn_Submitlbl_Titletxt_CustomerNamegal_ProductListdrp_Statusico_Alert
Variables
gbl_CurrentUserfor global variablesloc_SelectedItemfor context variablescol_WorkOrdersfor collections
Components
cmp_HeaderBarcmp_WorkOrderCard
You do not need to use every possible prefix. The goal is not to overengineer. The goal is structure and consistency.
3. Add Context and Trigger Information in Flows
Flows often run from different triggers: manually, automatically, or via HTTP. Include that context in the name.
Examples:
flw_IT_CreateTicket_OnFormSubmissionflw_Finance_WeeklyRevenueReport_Scheduledflw_FieldService_ReceiveAlert_OnIoTSignalflw_CustomerSupport_SendFollowUp_OnCaseResolved
This helps with documentation, troubleshooting, and automation.
4. Name Actions Inside the Flow (Include Action Type)
Never leave actions named Compose or Condition. Rename every step to reflect what it does and what kind of action it is.
Use this format:
ActionType-Purpose
Examples:
Compose-CustomerFullNameCondition-IsCustomerVIPInitialize-EmailBodyTemplateApplyToEach-LineItemsSet-StatusToCompleteParseJSON-RequestBodySendEmail-ManagerAlertFilterArray-OnlyApprovedItems
This makes your flows easier to read, debug, and explain to others.
5. Align Flow and Solution Logic
Flows often live inside larger business processes or solutions. Use naming that reflects the domain or feature.
Example:
- Related to field service?
flw_FieldService_ScheduleTechnicianVisitflw_FieldService_CreateWorkOrder_OnAlertflw_FieldService_NotifyCustomer_BeforeVisit
This kind of structure supports governance and makes cross-team collaboration much easier.
Consistency Beats Cleverness
More important than the actual names you choose is whether you use them consistently. It is better to have a simple pattern applied everywhere than a brilliant one used by only one person.
Consistency allows you to:
- Train new developers faster
- Build and deploy with confidence
- Avoid confusion during support
If each app or environment uses different naming styles, things break down fast. Naming is part of your architecture. Consistency is what makes it usable at scale.
Naming and ALM Go Hand in Hand
If you care about Application Lifecycle Management, you should care about naming.
Well-structured and consistently applied names support:
- Easier CI and CD automation
- More effective telemetry and monitoring
- Better auditing and change tracking
- Cleaner pipelines and solution design
In short, structured naming enables structured governance. It is not about being tidy. It is about building systems that scale.
Final Thought
You do not have to get naming perfect on day one. But you do have to treat it like it matters.
Because naming conventions are not just cosmetic.
They are how teams align.
They are how environments stay clean.
They are how architecture becomes sustainable.
Pick a pattern. Keep it simple. Stick to it everywhere.
That is what makes your solution professional. That is what makes it ready for the next person. And most of the time, that person is you.
💬 How do you name your flows, controls, and variables? Do you follow a defined standard, or something more flexible? Share your thoughts or horror stories in the comments.
