Error Handling Design

Purpose

Design a comprehensive error handling strategy including error taxonomy, user-facing messages, and recovery patterns.

When to Use

• System design phase
• Error experience improvement
• Consistency standardization

Process

Step 1: Create Error Taxonomy

Step 2: Design Error Response Format

Step 3: Define User-Facing Messages

Step 4: Plan Recovery Strategies

Step 5: Document Error Handling

StudyAbroad-Specific Considerations

• Validation errors with field details
• Deadline passed errors
• External API errors (graceful degradation)
• Document upload errors

Examples

Error Taxonomy:

VAL_* - Validation errors (400)
  VAL_INVALID_INPUT - General validation failure
  VAL_MISSING_FIELD - Required field missing
  VAL_INVALID_FORMAT - Wrong format

AUTH_* - Authentication errors (401)
  AUTH_UNAUTHORIZED - Not authenticated
  AUTH_TOKEN_EXPIRED - Token expired

BIZ_* - Business logic errors (400)
  BIZ_DEADLINE_PASSED - Application deadline passed
  BIZ_ALREADY_SUBMITTED - Already submitted
  BIZ_INCOMPLETE - Application incomplete

NF_* - Not found errors (404)
  NF_RESOURCE - Resource not found

EXT_* - External service errors (502/503)
  EXT_SERVICE_ERROR - External service unavailable