In programming, what is the term for explicitly checking values before processing data to avoid errors?

The term for explicitly checking values before processing data to avoid errors is data validation. This process ensures that the data being used meets specific criteria and constraints, which helps prevent issues such as runtime errors, incorrect calculations, or unexpected behavior during the execution of a program.

Data validation involves verifying the format, type, and range of data inputs. For example, if a program expects a user to input a number, data validation will check whether the entered value is indeed a number and falls within an acceptable range. If the input fails validation, the program can provide feedback to the user or reject the input before proceeding, thus maintaining data integrity and enhancing the reliability of the application.

While other terms like data processing, data analysis, and data transformation are related to handling and interpreting data in various ways, they do not specifically refer to the act of checking data values to prevent errors prior to further operations. Data processing involves manipulating and working on the data itself, data analysis is concerned with extracting insights from data, and data transformation deals with converting data from one format to another.