Defensive programming aims to prevent problems before they occur in computer software by creating code that can handle unexpected inputs. It involves balancing the elimination of unnecessary code with enough code to handle all possible user actions. Thorough testing is crucial, and the code should be clear and concise.
Defensive programming is the creation of code for computer software designed to avoid problematic problems before they arise and make the product more stable. The idea behind this approach is to create a program that is able to run correctly even through unexpected processes or when unexpected inputs are made by users. Defensive programming often relies on a somewhat paradoxical combination of eliminating unnecessary code while ensuring that enough code is generated to handle all possible user actions. Thorough testing is also important to this process, as is building software that can be easily tested and verified.
In many ways, the concept of defensive programming is very similar to that of defensive driving in that problems are considered before they arise. A common method of attempting to do this is through building code that is meant to address any possible scenario thrown at it. Programmers typically try to determine the ways users are likely to enter input or attempt to use software that may be outside the expected parameters. The use of defensive programming is built on the foundation of the code itself, which is designed to be able to handle strange input without crashing or encountering an error event.
Seemingly in contrast to this defensive programming element, however, well-written code must be free of unnecessary entries. The more lines of code that are part of a program, the more chances there are of introducing errors. Defensive programming practices typically encourage developers to purge unnecessary code and simplify programs whenever possible. Therefore, a balance must be found between programming that takes into account unexpected scenarios and code that contains too much unnecessary content without providing an advantage.
Testing is one of the most important aspects of defensive programming. Despite a lot of effort to ensure that the code is perfect, developers almost always miss an error or create code with unexpected results. Thorough testing by professional testers allows a developer to have hundreds of hours of product use to find errors before the software is released.
The code itself that is created in defensive programming is also a vital aspect of this process. Not only should it be simplified as much as possible, it should also be presented in a clear and concise manner. Audits are often used by a developer to review the code that has been created. This allows other programmers to see the work that has been done, and readable code is important for this to be a realistic part of development.
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