DataRepository

DataRepository is a software component that provides a centralized abstraction for accessing and persisting domain data. It is commonly used as part of the repository pattern to decouple business logic from the details of data storage, such as databases, web services, or file systems. A DataRepository offers a collection-like interface for retrieving and modifying domain objects and coordinates data retrieval, mapping, and persistence concerns.

A repository typically exposes operations like add, update, delete, getById, getAll, and query methods. It may support transaction boundaries, caching, and unit-of-work patterns. In domain-driven design, repositories manage aggregate roots and enforce invariants when loading or persisting aggregates.

Implementation choices vary: a DataRepository can be generic, handling multiple types, or specific to a single domain entity. It may be backed by ORMs, direct SQL, REST services, or in-memory stores. Asynchrony is common in modern implementations to avoid blocking I/O.

Relationship to other concepts: repository vs data access object (DAO); data access layer; data source vs repository abstraction. A DataRepository should not embed domain logic; its responsibilities are retrieval, persistence, and query translation. Tests typically mock repositories to isolate business logic.