Domain-Driven Design (DDD) is a software development approach that prioritizes deeply understanding and modeling the core business domain. It’s about aligning software design with the business needs it serves.
Key principles of DDD:
- Focus on the domain: The primary focus is on understanding the business domain and its complexities.
- Ubiquitous language: Developers and business experts share a common language to describe the domain. This ensures clear communication and alignment.
- Bounded contexts: Complex domains are divided into smaller, manageable subdomains called bounded contexts, each with its own model and language.
- Model-driven design: The software model directly reflects the domain model, making it easier to understand and maintain.
- Rich domain models: The domain model encapsulates complex business logic, making the code more expressive and maintainable.
Benefits of DDD:
- Improved communication: Shared language between developers and business experts.
- Better software quality: Code that closely reflects the business domain is often more maintainable and adaptable.
- Increased agility: DDD helps teams respond to changing business requirements more effectively.
- Reduced development time: By focusing on the core domain, developers can avoid unnecessary complexity.
In essence, DDD is about building software that truly understands the business it supports.