attributesdepends

Attributesdepends is a term used in data modeling and programming to denote that the value of one attribute is derived from one or more other attributes. In this approach, attributes are often computed or derived rather than stored outright, enabling automatic propagation of changes and consistency across a data model.

In practice, attributesdepends implies a dependency graph where nodes represent attributes and directed edges indicate that one attribute depends on others. A typical notation might declare a dependent attribute and its sources, for example: attributesdepends(dependent=fullName, sources=[firstName, lastName], method=concatenate). Systems that use this concept evaluate dependent attributes when any source attribute changes, usually by traversing the graph in topological order to ensure correct recomputation.

Common use cases include user profiles, form data, and configuration models, where derived fields such as fullName, age, or computed prices rely on other inputs. Benefits of this approach include reduced imperative update logic, consistent derived values, and opportunities for incremental or parallel computation when independent branches exist.

Limitations and considerations include the potential for circular dependencies, which require explicit handling to avoid infinite loops, and the need for careful ordering and change-detection to minimize recomputation overhead. Debugging can be more challenging than with simple stored attributes. In some domains, attributesdepends aligns with concepts such as computed fields, attribute grammars, and dataflow or reactive programming.

See also: attribute grammar, data dependency, computed field, reactive programming, dependency graph.