I am relatively new to HA but already faced the situation when I gave an entity a better name and my automation or dashboard is broken. I’ve read a few posts here with a feature request to provide immutable entity IDs (based on GUIDs) which should be used in whenever device is referenced. But this is obviously a big core change (assuming it will be approved), so in the mean time I need to build my home automations using current system design.
This brings me to a question: what is the best approach to name devices and entities? If you have relatively large system and you devices and entity names, can you share your naming principles? Do you include area names in device names? If so, then how specific are you in area naming? Or since devices are tagged with respecitve areas, you don’t need that? How descriptive and how long are names? Any tips on how to build consistent long term naming are appreciated.
There are already many threads on this topic - you should search and read those.
Personally, as I’ve said in those, I name them:
domain.room_location_function
For example switch.living_room_table_lamp or switch.garden_lights or binary_sensor.master_bedroom_window_left. They will then have longer (or shorter) friendly names, for example Living room table lamp, Garden lights, and Master bedroom window (left).
Where supported entities will also be in the matching area, but not every integration I use supports that.
The reasons are simple:
I can trivially tell what room something is in
It makes it really easy to use the entity in a notification of some form, eg The downstairs hall light sensor is at 10% battery