Name mangling refers to the practice of modifying a name in order to make it unique. This can occur in programming languages when two classes or functions have the same name. Common synonyms for name mangling include name decoration and name decoration. In some cases, name mangling can be automatic, such as when a language adds a prefix or suffix to differentiate between similar names, while in other cases, it must be done manually. Name mangling can prevent naming conflicts and ensure that code is more easily understood and maintained. While it may seem like a small detail, proper name mangling can save developers significant time and effort in the long run.