What is Pascal case? Definition, types, and examples

Pascal case is a naming style that joins words without spaces and capitalizes the first letter of every word, including the first, as in StreamReader or PropertyDescriptor.

This guide covers its exact rules, how acronyms are handled in different languages, examples, how it differs from camel, snake and kebab case, and where each language expects it.

How to write any phrase in Pascal case

1. Start with the plain phrase, for example stream reader.
2. Split it into words and drop spaces, hyphens and underscores.
3. Capitalize the first letter of every word, including the first: Stream, Reader.
4. Make the remaining letters of each word lowercase.
5. Join the words: StreamReader.
6. Apply your language's acronym rule, for example HtmlTag in .NET or HTTPServerError in Python.

What Is Pascal Case?

Term	Meaning
Pascal case	Every word starts with a capital letter and words are joined with no separator: PascalCase
Other names	Upper camel case; Python's PEP 8 calls it CapitalizedWords or CapWords, and notes it is sometimes called StudlyCaps
Format	Letters and digits only; no spaces, underscores or hyphens between words
Type of	Camel case, in the broad sense: MDN treats Pascal case as camel case with an uppercase first letter
Opposite style	Lower camel case (camelCase), where the first word starts lowercase

How Pascal Case Works

The core rule is simple, but acronyms and compound words are where style guides differ. These are the types of Pascal case you will meet.

Rule or variant	Example	Who uses it
Capitalize each word	PropertyDescriptor	Every style guide
Acronyms over two letters: capitalize only the first letter	HtmlTag	.NET Framework Design Guidelines
Two-letter acronyms: both letters capital	IOStream	.NET Framework Design Guidelines
All acronym letters capital	HTTPServerError	Python PEP 8
Mixed acronym styles	XMLHttpRequest	Some web platform names
Closed compound words count as one word	Metadata, not MetaData	.NET Framework Design Guidelines
Interface prefix	IWorkerQueue	C#, where interface names start with a capital I

Pascal Case Examples

Plain words	Pascal case	Where it appears
stream reader	StreamReader	.NET class
message queue	MessageQueue	.NET class
to string	ToString	.NET method
file mode	FileMode	.NET enum
array buffer	ArrayBuffer	JavaScript built-in
raster delegate	RasterDelegate	Java interface example
HTTP server error	HTTPServerError	Python class name per PEP 8

Pascal Case vs Camel Case, Snake Case, and Kebab Case

Style	Example	Rule	Typical use
Pascal case	UserAccount	Every word capitalized, no separator	Class and type names in C#, Java and Python; public members in C#
Camel case	userAccount	First word lowercase, later words capitalized	Java methods and variables, C# parameters and locals, JavaScript variables
Snake case	user_account	Lowercase words joined by underscores	Python functions and variables
Screaming snake case	MAX_WIDTH	Uppercase words joined by underscores	Constants in Java and Python
Kebab case	user-account	Lowercase words joined by hyphens	CSS properties and HTML attributes, not variables, because many languages read the hyphen as minus

Convert camel, snake or kebab case names to Pascal case

Renaming a variable into a class name, or porting code between languages, often means converting one style to another. The rule is the same for every source style.

Starting name	What to change	Pascal case result
userAccount (camel case)	Capitalize the first letter only	UserAccount
user_account (snake case)	Remove underscores and capitalize each word	UserAccount
MAX_WIDTH (screaming snake case)	Remove underscores, lowercase all but each word's first letter	MaxWidth
user-account (kebab case)	Remove hyphens and capitalize each word	UserAccount
html_tag for .NET	Capitalize each word, then apply the .NET acronym rule	HtmlTag
http_server_error for Python	Capitalize each word, then keep the acronym in capitals	HTTPServerError

Most code editors include a rename or refactor command that updates every reference to the name, which is safer than search-and-replace across a project.

Common Uses of Pascal Case in Programming

Language	Pascal case for	Not for
C# and .NET	Namespaces, types, interfaces, methods, properties, events, public fields, enum values and constants	Parameters and local variables, which use camel case
Java	Class and interface names	Methods and variables (camel case) and constants (uppercase with underscores)
Python	Class names, type variables, and exception names	Functions and variables, which use lowercase with underscores
JavaScript	Constructors and classes, such as ArrayBuffer	Most variables and functions, which use camel case
C# records	Positional record parameters, because they become public properties	Ordinary method parameters

Best Practices for Using Pascal Case

Practice	Why
Follow your language's style guide over personal taste	Readers expect HtmlTag in .NET but HTTPServerError in Python
Never use underscores between words	.NET guidelines forbid underscores in identifiers altogether
Treat closed compound words as one word	Write Placeholder, not PlaceHolder
Do not rely on case alone to tell names apart	Some languages that call your code are not case-sensitive
Use whole words, not abbreviations	Java conventions avoid abbreviations unless far more common, like URL or HTML
Name classes with nouns	Java conventions describe class names as nouns, such as Raster

How to check a name is valid Pascal case

1. Confirm the first character is an uppercase letter.
2. Confirm there are no spaces, hyphens or underscores.
3. Check that every new word starts with a capital letter.
4. Check acronyms against your language's rule, such as IOStream and HtmlTag in .NET.
5. Run your project's linter or code analyzer, which flags names that break its configured style.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is meant by Pascal case?

Pascal case means writing a compound name with no spaces and an uppercase first letter on every word, such as StreamReader. It is also called upper camel case, and Python's style guide calls it CapWords.

What is Pascal case format?

The format is capital letter, then lowercase letters, repeated for each word with no separator: FirstSecondThird. Digits are allowed after the first letter, and acronyms follow the language's own rule.

What is Pascal case in Java?

Java uses Pascal case for class and interface names, such as Raster or RasterDelegate. Methods and variables use camel case, and constants use uppercase words joined by underscores, such as MAX_WIDTH.

What is Pascal case in Python?

PEP 8 calls it CapWords and uses it for class names, type variables and exception names. Acronyms are fully capitalized, so HTTPServerError is preferred over HttpServerError. Functions and variables use lowercase with underscores.

What is Pascal case in C#?

C# uses Pascal case for type names, namespaces, methods and all public members, and interface names add an I prefix, as in IWorkerQueue. Parameters, local variables and private fields use camel case.

Is Pascal case the same as camel case?

Not quite. Both join words without separators and capitalize later words, but Pascal case also capitalizes the first word. MDN describes Pascal case as upper camel case and camelCase as lower camel case.

What is the difference between Pascal case and title case?

Title case keeps spaces between words, as in a headline. Pascal case removes the spaces and joins the words into one identifier, such as UserAccount, so it can be used as a name in code.

Bottom Line

Use Pascal case for class and type names in almost every mainstream language, and for all public members in C#, then apply your language's acronym rule consistently. Language style guides agree on the core rule but differ on acronyms, so consistency within a codebase matters more than either acronym style.