Any software application will have some sort of error handling functionality built into it. This is because errors are an unavoidable part of software development. However, the way in which errors are handled can have a significant impact on the user experience.
Poor error handling can result in a frustrating user experience, whereas well-designed error handling can make the difference between a good and a great user experience. In this article, we will discuss some of the key considerations for designing error handling for a better user experience.
Error handling is a crucial part of any software application. It is important for two main reasons:
If errors are not handled properly, it can result in the application crashing or malfunctioning. This can be extremely frustrating for users, as they are likely to lose any unsaved work. In some cases, it may even be impossible to restart the application.
Even if the application is able to recover from an error, it is still important to provide feedback to the user. Otherwise, they may not be aware that an error has occurred and may not know what to do next.
There are two main types of error that need to be considered when designing error handling:
System errors are usually more serious than user errors, as they can indicate a problem with the application that needs to be fixed. However, both types of error need to be handled gracefully.
System errors need to be handled in a way that minimises the impact on the user. The first step is to ensure that the application can recover from the error. This might involve try/catch blocks or error handling middleware.
Once the application has recovered from the error, it is important to provide feedback to the user. This should include an indication of what has happened and what they can do next. It is also important to apologised for any inconvenience caused.
The following is an example of how to handle a system error in Node.js:
try {
// Code that might throw an error
} catch (err) {
// Handle the error
console.error(err);
res.status(500).send({
error: 'Something went wrong'
});
}
User errors need to be handled in a way that is informative and helpful. The first step is to validate the input to ensure that it is in the correct format. This can be done using built-in functionality or by using a library such as Validator.js.
If the input is not valid, it is important to provide feedback to the user. This should include an indication of what is wrong and how they can fix it. It is also important to apologise for any inconvenience caused.
The following is an example of how to handle a user error in Node.js:
// Validate the input
const errors = validationResult(req);
if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
// There are errors, so return them to the user
res.status(400).send({
error: 'Invalid email address'
});
} else {
// The input is valid, so continue processing it
}
Error handling is a crucial part of any software application. It is important to ensure that errors are handled gracefully in order to maintain a good user experience.