Optionspecific

Option-specific is a term used in software engineering to describe data, behavior, or user interface elements that depend on a particular selected option. It denotes conditionality where features or values are revealed or activated only when an option is chosen or enabled.

In configuration and interfaces, option-specific elements help manage complexity by isolating settings to relevant contexts. This often involves conditional defaults, validation rules, and dependency graphs that specify which options require or disable others.

Examples include a command-line tool with a main option --mode and additional switches that apply only when mode equals expert; a web form that shows address fields only when the user selects "Ship to different address"; and an API that returns extra fields when format equals full.

Design considerations include clear documentation of option-specific behavior, predictable user experience, accessible visibility rules, automated tests for all option combinations, and careful handling of backward compatibility.