Nonupdatable

Nonupdatable describes data elements, resources, or fields that are not intended to be modified after creation. The concept is used across data storage, API contracts, and data models to preserve historical integrity, identifiers, or governance constraints. Nonupdatable is related to immutability and read-only design but is typically enforced at the level of the data element or API contract rather than universally for the entire object.

In databases, nonupdatable fields may be defined as immutable by application logic or enforced by constraints, triggers, or computed columns. Common examples include primary keys, creation timestamps, or business identifiers that must remain constant. Depending on the system, updates to such fields are rejected or ignored, and attempting to change them may raise an error.

In APIs or data contracts, nonupdatable properties are declared in the schema or documentation. Update operations (such as PATCH or PUT) are designed to omit these fields or to reject requests that attempt to modify them. This helps ensure stable identities, audit trails, and consistent external representations.

Benefits of nonupdatable design include data integrity, reliable auditing, and easier synchronization across systems. Trade-offs include reduced flexibility, more complex migrations when a constraint must be changed, and potential need for versioning or alternative representations to capture updated information without altering the original field.