Functiebased

Functiebased is a term used in Dutch-language information technology and management literature to describe approaches that organize systems, processes, or policies around functions—defined units of work or capability—rather than around entities such as objects, roles, or data structures. The concept appears in several subfields, including function-based design, function-based access control, and function-based testing.

In function-based design, software is decomposed into small, stateless functions that encapsulate a single operation and communicate through defined interfaces. This aligns with principles from functional programming and modular design and can improve testability and reuse, while potentially increasing the complexity of coordinating many functions.

In access control, function-based or FBAC models grant permissions by the function a user performs, rather than solely by user identity or job role. This can reduce privilege proliferation when tasks change, but requires careful classification of functions and auditing to prevent over-permissioning.

In testing, function-based testing focuses on validating individual functions or features against their specifications, independent of the surrounding system, which can support regression testing and clearer traceability.

Critics note that functiebased approaches may lead to higher coordination costs and possible performance overhead due to inter-function communication. The term is not standardized and may be used with different emphases in different organisations. It is also common for organisations to use functiebased concepts alongside other design principles such as object-oriented or role-based approaches.

See also: functional programming, modular design, function-based testing, role-based access control, attribute-based access control.