design by contract

noun

A software design approach that prescribes formal, precise and verifiable interface specifications (contracts) with preconditions, postconditions, and invariants.

Similar
contract programmingDbCprogramming by contract
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Meanings

noundesign by contract (uncountable)
  1. uncountablecomputingA software design approach that prescribes formal, precise and verifiable interface specifications (contracts) with preconditions, postconditions, and invariants.

    Synonyms: contract programming, DbC, programming by contract

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA software design approach that prescribes formal, precise and verifiable interface specifications (contracts) with preconditions, postconditions, and invariants.

Similar
contract programmingDbCprogramming by contract
Also see
contract programmingprogramming by contract

Origin

Coined by French computer scientist Bertrand Meyer.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish sopimuspohjainen ohjelmointi
  • sopimuspohjainen ohjelmointiTranslations
German Design by Contract
  • Design by ContractTranslations
Polish programowanie kontraktowe
  • programowanie kontraktoweTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

design by contract. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/design%20by%20contract

MLA

“design by contract.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/design%20by%20contract. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “design by contract,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/design%20by%20contract.

Source: design by contract on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.