Server-Side Validation
Server-side validation is a security and data integrity practice where input data from clients (e.g., web forms, API requests) is checked and sanitized on the server before processing or storage. It ensures that data meets predefined rules, such as format, length, and type constraints, and prevents malicious or erroneous data from compromising the system. This is a critical component in web development to protect against attacks like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and data corruption.
Developers should implement server-side validation whenever handling user input in web applications, APIs, or any client-server interaction to enforce business logic and security policies. It is essential for preventing security vulnerabilities, ensuring data consistency in databases, and providing reliable error feedback, as client-side validation can be bypassed. Use cases include user registration forms, payment processing, and data submission in enterprise systems.