Cracking the Code: The Epic Battle Between Backend and Frontend, and the Quest for the Elusive 422 Status Code!
One of the most frustrating coding challenges you will face as a backend engineer - or maybe a full-stack engineer - is this. Walk with me.
You set up your project and have fun building all the blocks. Yes, you crossed the t's and dotted the i's with the models, schemas, authentication, dependencies, and all the other modules. You tested the endpoints and boom! You say it out loud, "It is finished!" You have just saved the world.
But hang on a second...
It's time to stroll past the idyllic Frontend Crescent. Ever so peaceful and pretty. Like what you're feeling right now. Okay, okay 🤚😍🤩 Setting up the CORS origins and allowing all the allowables, you chuckled, "Frontend, here I come!"
Walking briskly to the Frontend Crescent, you start to dish out your magic. Oh, amazing! Things are looking great. The front-end is frontending. But just when you're about to take a bow. One endpoint! One teeny-weeny, swanky little endpoint grabs you by the leg and says "Oga, Where do you think you're going?"
You blinked. Is this a joke?
"Take this 422 status code and hold body!"
You dashed back home to the Backend Zone and checked. Everything seemed to be in order. You even moved a few things and tested again. Madame Swagger UI and bro Postman kept assuring you, "It works dude! It works fine."
Then you checked with Frontend once more. Frontend is not frontending anymore 🤣 In fact, she looked you in the eye and said, "We die here! Me and you."
Àbiku solóògùn dèké 😅🤣
What's the diagnosis? The obstinate “unprocessable entity”. It typically happens when there's a semantic error somewhere in your request. This type can be so sneaky that just testing on the backend alone might not reveal it. The server is saying, "I understand what you're asking me to do, but I won't move an inch." Tell me. What can be more frustrating?
You see, because some things will free you when you're in the home environment. But the moment you play an away match using CORS or maybe even deploying. That's when you see your project's real face.
Don't let 422 errors mess you up, my friend. Here are a few tips to avoid 422 errors while implementing your API:
Check your input: Make sure you are providing valid and properly formatted data in your request.
Validate your data: Implement server-side validation to ensure that the data you receive is valid and meets the required criteria.
Understand the API documentation: Read and understand the API documentation thoroughly to know the expected request format and any specific requirements.
Handle error responses: Implement proper error handling in your code to handle and respond to different types of errors, including 422 errors.
Test your requests: Before deploying your code, thoroughly test your requests to ensure they are working as expected and not generating any 422 errors.
And so, my friend. Here's something to remember: the path to becoming a skilled developer is never smooth or straightforward. It's filled with twists, turns, and those pesky little bugs that seem determined to test our patience. But with each challenge we face, we grow stronger and more resilient. Keep pushing forward, keep learning, and don't be afraid to ask for help when needed. Embrace the thrill of unravelling the mysteries of code, and let your passion for programming guide you. You've got this, warrior. Happy coding!