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In the Webel coding recipe for the Wolfram Language and Mathematica String keys for Associations are encapsulated as String variables prefixed with '$k$', which promotes DRY coding and has many other advantages, such as IDE prompting.
Direct use of "Strings" as Association keys is WET and strongly discouraged!
Note that this policy does not state that Associations MUST use Strings as keys in all Associations, just that where Strings are indeed used they SHOULD be encapsulated as '$k$' String variables.
For some '$k$' usage examples visit:
The '$k$' convention is often used together with these Webel help holder conventions:
EXAMPLE: The Webel help Rule system used to register '$opt$' and '$arg$' help holders with the HelpF` and HelpO` help registries uses the '$k$' key convention.
There is a detailed technical slide trail describing how the Webel naming conventions for Wolfram Language code work together: