partial update
A partial update changes only the fields identified by its contract.
Use this when Editing one field unexpectedly clears other stored values.
without the term
“When the app updates just the user's bio, their avatar and phone number get wiped. Can you make updates only change the fields that were sent?”
with the term · How do you ask a model for partial update?
Implement this partial update with explicit missing and null behavior. Test an omitted field, a cleared field, and an unknown field.
What is partial update?
The request changes only the fields it includes. Leaving a field out means 'keep it', and sending null means 'clear it', so the two must be told apart.
Why does partial update matter when vibe coding?
Reusing a create-schema default can turn omitted fields into overwrites.
How do you do partial update?
Define patch semantics and validate presence separately from value.
What goes wrong with partial update?
Applying create-time defaults to every update request.