title: Private methods vs local functions
body: <p>To my understanding, both local functions and private methods serve merely as implementation details - helpers for public methods. Why would I want to choose one over the other?</p>
  
  <p>When using a private method, I create a semantic relation between the object and the method (although not seen from the outside), which is not always justified. That is why my first instinct is that local functions are the way to go <em>unless more than one public method uses it</em>, in which case I would go with private methods.</p>
  
  <p>But are there any <strong>objective</strong> reasons to favor one of them? Are there any situations where one is preferable over the other? What are the pros and cons of using any of them?</p>