selectUsers

SelectUsers is a generic term used in software development to describe a function, API endpoint, or user interface component that retrieves one or more user entities from a data store based on specified criteria or user input. It is commonly used in administrative dashboards, messaging systems, and access-management workflows to identify the intended subjects for an operation.

In code, selectUsers typically accepts a filter or selection specification and returns a list of user objects. Parameters may include filter criteria (such as status, role, or group membership), projection (which fields to return), pagination controls (limit and offset), and sorting. It may support single or multi-selection modes depending on whether the caller passes a single identifier or a collection. Implementation can be server-side, where the function translates the criteria into a database query, or client-side, where a locally cached or fetched dataset is filtered. Some systems expose a dedicated API endpoint named selectUsers that accepts a structured query.

Common use cases include assigning tasks to users, sending alerts, granting access, or enumerating potential recipients for a message. It is often accompanied by permission checks to ensure the caller may view or act on the selected users.

Design considerations for selectUsers include performance through indexing and pagination, privacy and authorization, handling large result sets, maintaining consistent data shapes, and robust error handling. Related concepts include user directory, user search, access control, and notification routing.