ErrorInvalidState

ErrorInvalidState is a generic error identifier used in software systems to indicate that a requested operation cannot be completed because the current state of an object, component, or system is not compatible with the requested action. It is commonly associated with state machines, lifecycle management, or resource lifecycle, where actions are only valid in specific states.

Causes include attempting to call a method on a disposed object, issuing a state transition that violates the state machine, performing configuration changes while a resource is locked or read-only, or trying to complete a workflow out of its defined sequence. The error typically conveys that the preconditions of the operation are not met rather than that the arguments are invalid or the feature is unsupported.

Handling and prevention involve explicit state modeling, preflight state checks, and clear error messages. Implementations may throw an exception named ErrorInvalidState or return an error code with a state field and a descriptive message. Consumers should respond by inspecting the current state, applying appropriate state transitions, or retrying after the state change. Logging should include the observed state and the requested operation to aid debugging.

In API and library design, distinguishing ErrorInvalidState from other errors such as InvalidArgument, NotSupported, or FailedPrecondition helps callers diagnose lifecycle or workflow issues. See also: InvalidArgument, NotSupported, FailedPrecondition, StateMachine.