 Spectroscopic notation

This notation is cool as it gives the spin quantum number, which is important e.g. when talking about hyperfine structure.

But it is a bit crap that the spin is not given simply as $\pm 1/2$ but rather mixes up both the azimuthal quantum number and spin. What is the reason?

Spectroscopic notation is a way to represent the electronic configuration of atoms and ions in a concise manner, using specific symbols to denote the energy levels, subshells, and the number of electrons in each subshell. It is particularly useful for describing the quantum states of electrons in atoms, which is essential for understanding chemical behavior and spectral lines.