Contracts
Contracts are formal specifications in software development that define the expected behavior, inputs, outputs, and constraints of software components, such as functions, methods, or services. They are used to enforce correctness, improve reliability, and facilitate communication between different parts of a system or between teams. Common implementations include design-by-contract in languages like Eiffel, or contract libraries in languages like Python or Java.
Developers should learn and use contracts to build more robust and maintainable software, especially in large-scale or distributed systems where components interact. They are crucial for preventing bugs, enabling automated testing, and documenting APIs clearly, making them valuable in scenarios like microservices, library development, or safety-critical applications. Contracts help catch errors early, reduce debugging time, and ensure that code adheres to specified requirements.