firewall code

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing

<programming> Code designed to limit adverse effects of bugs or bad input.

The term may also refer to user interface design intended to steer the user away from potentially harmful actions, e.g. burying the function to delete your account at the bottom of the "Advanced" options.

Another example is a sanity check inserted to catch a can't happen error. When fixing a bug, you might also insert firewall code which would have prevented the bug from doing any damage, in case something similar ever happens. [Jargon File]

(2020-06-25)

The Jargon File

1.The code you put in a system (say, a telephone switch) to make sure that the users can't do any damage. Since users always want to be able to do everything but never want to suffer for any mistakes, the construction of a firewall is a question not only of defensive coding but also of interface presentation, so that users don't even get curious about those corners of a system where they can burn themselves.

2.Any sanity check inserted to catch a can't happen error. Wise programmers often change code to fix a bug twice: once to fix the bug, and once to insert a firewall which would have arrested the bug before it did quite as much damage.