shouldSave

ShouldSave is a boolean flag used in software design to indicate whether the current state of a data object, user interface, or process should be written to durable storage or included in a save operation. It acts as a signal that changes are worth preserving and is often managed alongside a related indicator, such as a dirty flag, that tracks unsaved modifications.

In user interfaces, shouldSave commonly appears in dialogs that prompt users to save before closing, or in autosave features that trigger persistence after a set of changes. In data models and services, the flag can be part of a save workflow or a unit of work, guiding whether an operation should perform a write.

Semantics: true means perform persistence; false means skip. The initial value often defaults to false, turning true when a mutating operation occurs. It can be reset after a successful save or cleared when the change is discarded.

Design patterns: often implemented as a dirty flag paired with a save or commit operation; may interact with transactions, versioning, and concurrency controls. Implementations should ensure consistent state across layers and avoid ambiguity about what should be saved.

Challenges: ensuring the flag reflects intent, handling partial saves, and avoiding data loss on exit. Clear naming and documentation help reduce misuse; consider user expectations with autosave and explicit save actions.

See also: persistence, dirty flag, autosave, save.