formdriven

Formdriven is a term used in software design and development to describe an approach in which forms act as the primary mechanism for capturing data, governing workflow, and constraining logic within an application. In a form-driven design, the structure, validation rules, and even some business decisions are defined by the forms themselves rather than by an independent domain model or code.

Forms can be static or dynamic. Dynamic forms adapt to user input or metadata, sometimes generated from metadata schemas or rule engines. Validation rules are declared on the form level and can include conditional logic, required fields, formats, and cross-field constraints. Some implementations support form-driven generation of user interfaces and data models, enabling rapid changes without code changes.

Common contexts include enterprise applications, content management systems, survey and data collection tools, and low-code platforms where form builders empower non-developers to configure processes.

Relation to other approaches: It contrasts with model-driven design, where the domain model primarily drives UI, and with schema-driven approaches that emphasize underlying data schemas. Form-driven design emphasizes alignment with data capture needs and business rules documented in forms.

Pros include faster iteration, improved compliance, lower coding effort, and consistent validation across the system. Cons include potential for rigid workflows, difficulty in evolving complex processes, and performance and maintainability concerns with large numbers of dynamic forms.