Bounded Context

Bounded Context is a term used in Domain-Driven Design (DDD) to define the scope or boundaries within which a particular model is valid. It helps in avoiding ambiguity and maintaining a clear understanding of the concepts used in different parts of a system. Each Bounded Context has its own specific language, rules, and constraints.

Here are a few examples to illustrate the concept of Bounded Contexts:

1. E-commerce System:

   • Sales Bounded Context: This context may focus on order processing, inventory management, and payment processing. It defines terms like "shopping cart," "order status," and "payment confirmation" with specific meanings within this context.
   • Customer Support Bounded Context: Here, the focus might be on customer interactions, complaints, and support tickets. Terms like "customer satisfaction," "ticket resolution," and "support level" have specific meanings within this context.

2. Healthcare System:

   • Patient Management Bounded Context: This context might handle patient information, medical history, and appointment scheduling. Terms like "patient record," "medical history," and "appointment" have specific meanings within this context.
   • Billing Bounded Context: This context could be responsible for billing, insurance claims, and financial transactions. Terms like "insurance claim," "billing statement," and "payment status" have specific meanings within this context.

3. Social Media Platform:

   • User Profile Bounded Context: This context may focus on user profiles, friends, and personal preferences. Terms like "user profile," "friend request," and "personal settings" have specific meanings within this context.
   • Content Sharing Bounded Context: Here, the emphasis might be on posts, comments, and media sharing. Terms like "post," "comment," and "media file" have specific meanings within this context.

In each of these examples, the Bounded Contexts help define a clear understanding of the domain within a specific area of the system. It enables different teams or modules to work independently without causing confusion or conflicts in the interpretation of terms and concepts. The boundaries are established to ensure that changes within one Bounded Context do not unintentionally affect another, promoting better modularity and maintainability in complex systems.