5 Rules For DTOs
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2 months ago
Published on Jul 16, 2024
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Table of Contents
Tutorial: 5 Rules for Writing Better DTOs
Step 1: Understanding DTOs
- Definition: DTO stands for Data Transfer Object. It is used to transfer data between different parts of a system, often serialized to formats like JSON or XML.
- Purpose: DTOs should only contain data values and should not have any logic or behavior.
Step 2: Rule 1: DTOs Should Not Have Logic
- Guideline: DTOs should not contain any behavior as the receiver of the data may deserialize it into a different type.
- Example: Use a simple person DTO with only data properties.
Step 3: Rule 2: Immutability and Serialization
- Immutability: DTOs can be immutable to ensure consistency.
- Serialization: Serialize DTOs to formats like JSON and ensure round-trip serialization.
Step 4: Rule 3: Use Properties, Not Fields
- Best Practice: Prefer using properties over fields in DTOs for better support and serialization.
- Example: Create an order DTO using properties for values.
Step 5: Rule 4: Naming Convention
- Suffix Usage: Use "DTO" as a suffix for DTO names. Avoid excessive suffixes like "Request" or "Response" unless necessary.
Step 6: Rule 5: Specific DTO Types
- Purposeful Naming: Use specific names for different types of DTOs like API request, response objects, MVC view models, etc.
- Example: Create separate DTO types for commands, queries, and events.
Step 7: Validation and Attributes
- Validation: Add attributes to DTO properties for validation purposes.
- Example: Use attributes like minimum length for properties like email and password.
Step 8: Fluent Validation
- Fluent Validation: Consider using Fluent Validation for more complex validation scenarios.
- Implementation: Create separate validators for each DTO type for custom validation rules.
Step 9: Sharing and Feedback
- Share Rules: Share these DTO rules with colleagues for better understanding and implementation.
- Feedback: Leave comments for any questions or suggestions for future videos.
By following these rules and guidelines, you can create well-structured and effective DTOs for your applications. Feel free to experiment with the provided examples and explore further improvements in your DTO implementation.