Branchregels

Branchregels, or branch rules, are sets of criteria that determine which path a process, model, or system should follow when multiple outcomes are possible. They specify under which conditions a particular branch is taken and often define what happens if none of the conditions apply.

Key features of branchregels include explicit conditions, a defined evaluation order, and a clear distinction between branches. They can be designed to be mutually exclusive or to allow overlapping conditions with a specified priority. Many implementations also include a default or fallback branch to handle cases that do not meet any explicit rule.

Branchregels are used in a variety of domains. In programming and software development, conditional statements and control flow rely on branch rules to decide which block of code to execute. In data analysis and machine learning, decision trees use branch rules to split data at each node based on feature values. In business processes and workflow automation, branching rules determine the next steps, tasks, or approvals based on attributes such as status, value, or user input. In rule-based systems and configuration engines, branch rules express knowledge that guides automated decisions.

An example of a simple branch rule set might be:

- If customer is a member and total purchase > 100, apply discount A.

- Else if customer is a member or total purchase > 50, apply discount B.

- Else, apply no discount.

Implementation considerations include readability, maintainability, conflict resolution, and testing to ensure predictable behavior. Branch rules are often documented alongside the model or workflow they govern.

See also: decision tree, conditional statement, workflow automation, rule engine.