In software architecture, what is a delegate?

In software architecture, what is a delegate?

• A. A module that aggregates multiple services into a single API
• B. A wrapper around a database connection
• C. A block of code that protects a function that should not be exposed to users within an application
• D. A design pattern for the repository

Answer: (C)

A delegate is a piece of code that stands in for or controls access to another function, often acting as a gatekeeper. In this view, the delegate exposes a safe surface to the rest of the application while containing logic that protects or controls access to a function that shouldn’t be directly exposed to users. It can enforce security checks, input validation, and other access controls before the real work is performed, helping keep internal behavior encapsulated and invariant. This separation means internal implementations can change without affecting how external code uses the system, and it reinforces that only authorized paths can trigger sensitive functionality. The other options describe different architectural roles—combining multiple services into one API, wrapping a database connection, or implementing a repository pattern—not the protective, gatekeeping role of a delegate.

A delegate is a piece of code that stands in for or controls access to another function, often acting as a gatekeeper. In this view, the delegate exposes a safe surface to the rest of the application while containing logic that protects or controls access to a function that shouldn’t be directly exposed to users. It can enforce security checks, input validation, and other access controls before the real work is performed, helping keep internal behavior encapsulated and invariant. This separation means internal implementations can change without affecting how external code uses the system, and it reinforces that only authorized paths can trigger sensitive functionality. The other options describe different architectural roles—combining multiple services into one API, wrapping a database connection, or implementing a repository pattern—not the protective, gatekeeping role of a delegate.