Sääntömoottori

Sääntömoottori, often translated as "rule engine" or "business rule engine" (BRE), is a software system used to manage and execute business logic. It separates business rules from the core application code, allowing for more flexible and dynamic management of decision-making processes. Instead of embedding rules directly into the application's programming, they are defined in a separate, often declarative, format.

The primary function of a sääntömoottori is to evaluate a set of conditions (the "rules") against a given set of data (the "facts") and then execute corresponding actions or derive new facts. This process is often referred to as "rule firing." When a rule's conditions are met by the input data, the rule is triggered, and its associated action is performed.

Sääntömoottorit are valuable in scenarios where business policies or regulations change frequently. By externalizing these rules, organizations can update them without requiring extensive software development cycles. This leads to faster adaptation to market demands, compliance changes, and evolving business strategies. Common applications include fraud detection, loan origination, insurance claims processing, and personalized marketing. They promote transparency and maintainability by making the business logic explicit and accessible to business analysts as well as developers.