This key facts covers Defensive Design Principles within Defensive Design for GCSE Computer Science. Revise Defensive Design in 3.2 Programming for GCSE Computer Science with 15 exam-style questions and 8 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 2 of 6 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Defensive Design Principles
| Principle | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Input Validation | Check data before processing | Age must be 0-120 |
| Input Sanitisation | Clean/remove dangerous characters | Remove < > from text |
| Anticipating Misuse | Plan for incorrect/malicious use | Limit login attempts |
| Authentication | Verify user identity | Username + password |
| Maintainability | Code that's easy to update | Comments, naming, indentation |
Practice questions for Defensive Design
What is the purpose of input validation in a program?
Describe three different types of validation check, giving an example of each.
Quick recall flashcards
What is authentication?
Verifying a user's identity before granting access to a system
Why use comments?
To explain code so others can understand and maintain it