ErrorMessage

An errormessage, commonly written as error message, is a notification displayed by software or systems to indicate that an operation could not be completed as intended. It can be shown to end users or recorded in logs for debugging. The message typically includes a short description of the problem and, when appropriate, guidance on next steps.

Error messages usually consist of an error code or identifier, a human-readable description, and optionally a suggested remedy or context. They can be user-facing or developer-facing. They are emitted in response to categories such as input validation failures, resource unavailability, permission errors, or internal faults.

Common contexts include user interfaces (dialog boxes, inline text), logs, console output, and network protocols. In web services, HTTP status codes carry the error semantics, while in programming environments languages provide exceptions with messages. System-level errors may map to platform-specific codes (POSIX errno, Windows error codes).

Best practices include keeping messages concise and actionable, avoiding unnecessary technical detail for end users, localizing text, ensuring accessibility, and not exposing sensitive information. When possible, separate user-facing messages from debugging data, and provide consistent codes to aid support and automation.

Design and maintenance considerations include clear logging, versioning of error formats, and handling strategies such as retries or fallbacks. Properly designed errormessages improve usability, aid troubleshooting, and reduce user frustration while maintaining security and privacy.