commandtype

In computing, commandtype refers to the designation that identifies the kind of command a system must execute. It is a conceptual label used in architectures that process user requests or inter-component messages and is often represented as a field within a command object, a header in a message, or an element in a routing table. Although not a formal standard, it is a common term used in documentation to describe how commands are categorized and dispatched.

In the Command Pattern and related architectures, each command object encapsulates all information needed to perform an action. The commandtype is typically the distinguishing attribute that allows a dispatcher or handler to select the appropriate operation. In event-driven or message-based systems, commandtypes are used to route incoming requests to the correct handler and to enforce separation of concerns between producers and consumers.

Representations of commandtype vary. They may be string identifiers such as createUser or deleteAccount, numeric codes, or enum values in strongly typed languages. They are often derived from user input tokens, API endpoints, or message headers, and they enable decoupled, extensible routing, validation, and logging.

Design considerations include validation of the commandtype, authorization checks, versioning to support backward compatibility, and handling of unknown commandtypes. Systems may provide a default handler or return an error when a commandtype is unrecognized.

Examples of commandtypes include createOrder, updateProfile, cancelSubscription, and fetchReport. In practice, a single command-processing subsystem can support many types without changing all of its handlers, by mapping commandtypes to specific handlers or command classes.

See also: Command pattern, Command routing, Message type, Dispatcher, Command handler.