Java Coding Problems

52. Avoiding bad data in immutable objects

Bad data is any data that has a negative impact on the immutable object (for example, corrupted data). Most probably, this data comes from user inputs or from external data sources that are not under our direct control. In such cases, bad data can hit the immutable object, and the worst part is that there is no fix for it. An immutable object cannot be changed after creation; therefore, bad data will live happily as long as the object lives.

The solution to this problem is to validate all data that enters in an immutable object against a comprehensive set of constraints.

There are different ways of performing validation, from custom validation to built-in solutions. Validation can be performed outside ...