What is input validation and why is it important in secure coding?

Secure Coding Practices Questions



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What is input validation and why is it important in secure coding?

Input validation is the process of verifying and validating user input to ensure that it meets the expected format, type, and range before it is processed or stored by a software application. It is important in secure coding because it helps prevent various types of security vulnerabilities such as injection attacks, buffer overflows, and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

By validating input, developers can ensure that only expected and safe data is accepted by the application. This helps to mitigate the risk of malicious users exploiting vulnerabilities in the software by injecting malicious code or unexpected data. Input validation also helps to maintain data integrity and consistency, as it ensures that the application only processes valid and expected input, reducing the chances of errors or unexpected behavior.

Overall, input validation is a crucial aspect of secure coding as it acts as a first line of defense against many common security vulnerabilities, helping to protect the application and its users from potential attacks.