What type of control does a limit check function as in input validation?

A limit check functions as a preventive control in input validation. This type of control is designed to prevent erroneous data from being entered into a system by establishing predefined acceptable ranges or limits for input values. For instance, if an input field requires a numerical age, a limit check would ensure that only values within a realistic range (e.g., 0 to 120) are accepted. If a user attempts to enter a value that falls outside this range, the system would reject the input before it can cause any issues downstream in processing or analytics.

Preventive controls aim to mitigate risks before they occur by stopping bad data at the source. Implementing limit checks is essential for maintaining data integrity and ensuring that business processes reliant on accurate data run smoothly. It’s important to have such checks in place to decrease the likelihood of errors proliferating through subsequent processes, which could lead to more significant issues or invalid decisions based on incorrect data.