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From dotnet-clean-architecture-skills
Provides Result, Result<T>, and Error types for explicit error handling without exceptions in .NET domain-driven applications. Enforces compiler-checked success/failure handling and railway-oriented programming.
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The Result pattern provides explicit error handling without exceptions:
Implements error handling in .NET apps with Result pattern for expected failures, ProblemDetails (RFC 9457) responses, global exception handlers, FluentValidation, and structured API errors.
Guides ErrorOr result pattern implementation for WPF MVVM service layer error handling without exceptions. Includes FluentValidation and CommunityToolkit.Mvvm integration.
Implements Domain-Driven Design (DDD) and CQRS patterns for .NET microservices, including aggregates, value objects, domain events, repositories, entities, and layered architecture with MediatR.
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The Result pattern provides explicit error handling without exceptions:
| Type | Purpose | Usage |
|---|---|---|
Result | Operation without return value | Update, Delete operations |
Result<T> | Operation with return value | Create, Get operations |
Error | Error information | Code + Description |
/Domain/Abstractions/
├── Result.cs # Result and Result<T>
├── Error.cs # Error record
└── ValidationResult.cs # Multiple errors support
// src/{name}.domain/Abstractions/Error.cs
namespace {name}.domain.abstractions;
/// <summary>
/// Represents an error with a code and description
/// </summary>
public record Error(string Code, string Description)
{
/// <summary>
/// Represents no error (success state)
/// </summary>
public static readonly Error None = new(string.Empty, string.Empty);
/// <summary>
/// Represents a null value error
/// </summary>
public static readonly Error NullValue = new(
"Error.NullValue",
"A null value was provided");
/// <summary>
/// Creates an error from an exception
/// </summary>
public static Error FromException(Exception exception) => new(
"Error.Exception",
exception.Message);
/// <summary>
/// Implicit conversion to string (returns Code)
/// </summary>
public static implicit operator string(Error error) => error.Code;
public override string ToString() => Code;
}
// src/{name}.domain/Abstractions/Result.cs
namespace {name}.domain.abstractions;
/// <summary>
/// Represents the outcome of an operation that doesn't return a value
/// </summary>
public class Result
{
protected Result(bool isSuccess, Error error)
{
if (isSuccess && error != Error.None)
{
throw new InvalidOperationException(
"Cannot create successful result with an error");
}
if (!isSuccess && error == Error.None)
{
throw new InvalidOperationException(
"Cannot create failed result without an error");
}
IsSuccess = isSuccess;
Error = error;
}
public bool IsSuccess { get; }
public bool IsFailure => !IsSuccess;
public Error Error { get; }
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
// FACTORY METHODS
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
/// <summary>
/// Creates a successful result
/// </summary>
public static Result Success() => new(true, Error.None);
/// <summary>
/// Creates a failed result with the specified error
/// </summary>
public static Result Failure(Error error) => new(false, error);
/// <summary>
/// Creates a successful result with a value
/// </summary>
public static Result<TValue> Success<TValue>(TValue value) =>
new(value, true, Error.None);
/// <summary>
/// Creates a failed result with the specified error
/// </summary>
public static Result<TValue> Failure<TValue>(Error error) =>
new(default, false, error);
/// <summary>
/// Creates a result based on a condition
/// </summary>
public static Result Create(bool condition, Error error) =>
condition ? Success() : Failure(error);
/// <summary>
/// Creates a result based on a condition with a value
/// </summary>
public static Result<TValue> Create<TValue>(TValue? value, Error error) =>
value is not null ? Success(value) : Failure<TValue>(error);
}
/// <summary>
/// Represents the outcome of an operation that returns a value
/// </summary>
public class Result<TValue> : Result
{
private readonly TValue? _value;
protected internal Result(TValue? value, bool isSuccess, Error error)
: base(isSuccess, error)
{
_value = value;
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets the value if successful, throws if failed
/// </summary>
public TValue Value => IsSuccess
? _value!
: throw new InvalidOperationException(
$"Cannot access value of a failed result. Error: {Error.Code}");
/// <summary>
/// Implicit conversion from value to successful Result
/// </summary>
public static implicit operator Result<TValue>(TValue? value) =>
value is not null ? Success(value) : Failure<TValue>(Error.NullValue);
/// <summary>
/// Implicit conversion from Error to failed Result
/// </summary>
public static implicit operator Result<TValue>(Error error) =>
Failure<TValue>(error);
}
// src/{name}.domain/Abstractions/ResultExtensions.cs
namespace {name}.domain.abstractions;
public static class ResultExtensions
{
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
// MAP: Transform success value
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
/// <summary>
/// Transforms the value if successful, preserves error if failed
/// </summary>
public static Result<TOut> Map<TIn, TOut>(
this Result<TIn> result,
Func<TIn, TOut> mapper)
{
return result.IsSuccess
? Result.Success(mapper(result.Value))
: Result.Failure<TOut>(result.Error);
}
/// <summary>
/// Async version of Map
/// </summary>
public static async Task<Result<TOut>> Map<TIn, TOut>(
this Task<Result<TIn>> resultTask,
Func<TIn, TOut> mapper)
{
var result = await resultTask;
return result.Map(mapper);
}
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
// BIND: Chain operations that return Result
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
/// <summary>
/// Chains another Result-returning operation if successful
/// </summary>
public static Result<TOut> Bind<TIn, TOut>(
this Result<TIn> result,
Func<TIn, Result<TOut>> binder)
{
return result.IsSuccess
? binder(result.Value)
: Result.Failure<TOut>(result.Error);
}
/// <summary>
/// Async version of Bind
/// </summary>
public static async Task<Result<TOut>> Bind<TIn, TOut>(
this Result<TIn> result,
Func<TIn, Task<Result<TOut>>> binder)
{
return result.IsSuccess
? await binder(result.Value)
: Result.Failure<TOut>(result.Error);
}
/// <summary>
/// Async version of Bind for Task results
/// </summary>
public static async Task<Result<TOut>> Bind<TIn, TOut>(
this Task<Result<TIn>> resultTask,
Func<TIn, Result<TOut>> binder)
{
var result = await resultTask;
return result.Bind(binder);
}
/// <summary>
/// Fully async Bind
/// </summary>
public static async Task<Result<TOut>> Bind<TIn, TOut>(
this Task<Result<TIn>> resultTask,
Func<TIn, Task<Result<TOut>>> binder)
{
var result = await resultTask;
return await result.Bind(binder);
}
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
// TAP: Execute side effect without changing result
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
/// <summary>
/// Executes an action if successful, returns original result
/// </summary>
public static Result<T> Tap<T>(
this Result<T> result,
Action<T> action)
{
if (result.IsSuccess)
{
action(result.Value);
}
return result;
}
/// <summary>
/// Async version of Tap
/// </summary>
public static async Task<Result<T>> Tap<T>(
this Result<T> result,
Func<T, Task> action)
{
if (result.IsSuccess)
{
await action(result.Value);
}
return result;
}
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
// MATCH: Pattern match on result
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
/// <summary>
/// Executes success or failure function based on result state
/// </summary>
public static TOut Match<TIn, TOut>(
this Result<TIn> result,
Func<TIn, TOut> onSuccess,
Func<Error, TOut> onFailure)
{
return result.IsSuccess
? onSuccess(result.Value)
: onFailure(result.Error);
}
/// <summary>
/// Async version of Match
/// </summary>
public static async Task<TOut> Match<TIn, TOut>(
this Task<Result<TIn>> resultTask,
Func<TIn, TOut> onSuccess,
Func<Error, TOut> onFailure)
{
var result = await resultTask;
return result.Match(onSuccess, onFailure);
}
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
// ENSURE: Add validation to existing result
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
/// <summary>
/// Validates the value and fails if predicate returns false
/// </summary>
public static Result<T> Ensure<T>(
this Result<T> result,
Func<T, bool> predicate,
Error error)
{
if (result.IsFailure)
{
return result;
}
return predicate(result.Value)
? result
: Result.Failure<T>(error);
}
/// <summary>
/// Async version of Ensure
/// </summary>
public static async Task<Result<T>> Ensure<T>(
this Result<T> result,
Func<T, Task<bool>> predicate,
Error error)
{
if (result.IsFailure)
{
return result;
}
return await predicate(result.Value)
? result
: Result.Failure<T>(error);
}
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
// COMBINE: Combine multiple results
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
/// <summary>
/// Combines multiple results, returning first failure or success
/// </summary>
public static Result Combine(params Result[] results)
{
foreach (var result in results)
{
if (result.IsFailure)
{
return result;
}
}
return Result.Success();
}
/// <summary>
/// Combines multiple results with values
/// </summary>
public static Result<(T1, T2)> Combine<T1, T2>(
Result<T1> result1,
Result<T2> result2)
{
if (result1.IsFailure) return Result.Failure<(T1, T2)>(result1.Error);
if (result2.IsFailure) return Result.Failure<(T1, T2)>(result2.Error);
return Result.Success((result1.Value, result2.Value));
}
/// <summary>
/// Combines three results with values
/// </summary>
public static Result<(T1, T2, T3)> Combine<T1, T2, T3>(
Result<T1> result1,
Result<T2> result2,
Result<T3> result3)
{
if (result1.IsFailure) return Result.Failure<(T1, T2, T3)>(result1.Error);
if (result2.IsFailure) return Result.Failure<(T1, T2, T3)>(result2.Error);
if (result3.IsFailure) return Result.Failure<(T1, T2, T3)>(result3.Error);
return Result.Success((result1.Value, result2.Value, result3.Value));
}
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
// GET VALUE OR DEFAULT
// ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
/// <summary>
/// Returns the value if successful, or default value if failed
/// </summary>
public static T GetValueOrDefault<T>(
this Result<T> result,
T defaultValue = default!)
{
return result.IsSuccess ? result.Value : defaultValue;
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the value if successful, or result of factory if failed
/// </summary>
public static T GetValueOrDefault<T>(
this Result<T> result,
Func<T> defaultFactory)
{
return result.IsSuccess ? result.Value : defaultFactory();
}
}
// src/{name}.domain/Abstractions/ValidationResult.cs
namespace {name}.domain.abstractions;
/// <summary>
/// Result that can contain multiple validation errors
/// </summary>
public sealed class ValidationResult : Result, IValidationResult
{
private ValidationResult(Error[] errors)
: base(false, IValidationResult.ValidationError)
{
Errors = errors;
}
public Error[] Errors { get; }
public static ValidationResult WithErrors(Error[] errors) => new(errors);
}
/// <summary>
/// Validation result with a value
/// </summary>
public sealed class ValidationResult<TValue> : Result<TValue>, IValidationResult
{
private ValidationResult(Error[] errors)
: base(default, false, IValidationResult.ValidationError)
{
Errors = errors;
}
public Error[] Errors { get; }
public static ValidationResult<TValue> WithErrors(Error[] errors) => new(errors);
}
/// <summary>
/// Marker interface for validation results
/// </summary>
public interface IValidationResult
{
public static readonly Error ValidationError = new(
"Validation.Error",
"One or more validation errors occurred");
Error[] Errors { get; }
}
public sealed class User : Entity
{
public static Result<User> Create(string email, string name)
{
// Validate email
var emailResult = Email.Create(email);
if (emailResult.IsFailure)
{
return Result.Failure<User>(emailResult.Error);
}
// Validate name
if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(name))
{
return Result.Failure<User>(UserErrors.NameRequired);
}
if (name.Length > 100)
{
return Result.Failure<User>(UserErrors.NameTooLong);
}
var user = new User(Guid.NewGuid(), emailResult.Value, name);
return Result.Success(user);
}
public Result UpdateName(string name)
{
if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(name))
{
return Result.Failure(UserErrors.NameRequired);
}
Name = name;
return Result.Success();
}
}
internal sealed class CreateUserCommandHandler
: ICommandHandler<CreateUserCommand, Guid>
{
private readonly IUserRepository _userRepository;
private readonly IUnitOfWork _unitOfWork;
public async Task<Result<Guid>> Handle(
CreateUserCommand request,
CancellationToken cancellationToken)
{
// Check if user exists
var existingUser = await _userRepository
.GetByEmailAsync(request.Email, cancellationToken);
if (existingUser is not null)
{
return Result.Failure<Guid>(UserErrors.EmailAlreadyExists);
}
// Create user using factory method
var userResult = User.Create(request.Email, request.Name);
if (userResult.IsFailure)
{
return Result.Failure<Guid>(userResult.Error);
}
_userRepository.Add(userResult.Value);
await _unitOfWork.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
return userResult.Value.Id;
}
}
public async Task<Result<OrderConfirmation>> PlaceOrder(
Guid userId,
CreateOrderRequest request,
CancellationToken ct)
{
return await GetUser(userId, ct)
.Bind(user => ValidateUserCanOrder(user))
.Bind(user => CreateOrder(user, request))
.Bind(order => ProcessPayment(order, ct))
.Bind(order => SendConfirmation(order, ct));
}
[HttpPost]
public async Task<IActionResult> Create(
[FromBody] CreateUserRequest request,
CancellationToken ct)
{
var command = new CreateUserCommand(request.Email, request.Name);
var result = await _sender.Send(command, ct);
return result.Match(
onSuccess: id => CreatedAtAction(nameof(GetById), new { id }, id),
onFailure: error => error.Code switch
{
"User.EmailExists" => Conflict(error),
"User.NotFound" => NotFound(error),
_ => BadRequest(error)
});
}
public Result<Order> CreateOrder(
CreateOrderRequest request)
{
// Validate all fields
var customerResult = CustomerId.Create(request.CustomerId);
var addressResult = Address.Create(request.Street, request.City);
var amountResult = Money.Create(request.Amount);
// Combine - returns first failure
var combinedResult = ResultExtensions.Combine(
customerResult,
addressResult,
amountResult);
if (combinedResult.IsFailure)
{
return Result.Failure<Order>(combinedResult.Error);
}
var (customerId, address, amount) = combinedResult.Value;
return Order.Create(customerId, address, amount);
}
// src/{name}.domain/Users/UserErrors.cs
namespace {name}.domain.users;
public static class UserErrors
{
public static readonly Error NotFound = new(
"User.NotFound",
"The user with the specified ID was not found");
public static readonly Error EmailAlreadyExists = new(
"User.EmailExists",
"A user with this email already exists");
public static readonly Error NameRequired = new(
"User.NameRequired",
"User name is required");
public static readonly Error NameTooLong = new(
"User.NameTooLong",
"User name cannot exceed 100 characters");
public static readonly Error InvalidCredentials = new(
"User.InvalidCredentials",
"The provided credentials are invalid");
public static readonly Error AccountLocked = new(
"User.AccountLocked",
"The user account is locked");
// Parameterized errors
public static Error NotFoundById(Guid id) => new(
"User.NotFound",
$"The user with ID '{id}' was not found");
public static Error Unauthorized(string resource) => new(
"User.Unauthorized",
$"User is not authorized to access '{resource}'");
}
Result.FailureResult.Success(), Result.Failure()record Error(...){Entity}.{ErrorType} pattern// ❌ WRONG: Throwing for business errors
if (user is null)
throw new NotFoundException("User not found");
// ✅ CORRECT: Return Result
if (user is null)
return Result.Failure<User>(UserErrors.NotFound);
// ❌ WRONG: Accessing Value without checking
var user = result.Value; // Throws if failed!
// ✅ CORRECT: Check first
if (result.IsFailure)
return Result.Failure(result.Error);
var user = result.Value;
// ❌ WRONG: Ignoring Result
await CreateUserAsync(request); // Ignores possible failure
// ✅ CORRECT: Handle the result
var result = await CreateUserAsync(request);
if (result.IsFailure)
// Handle error
// ❌ WRONG: Using exceptions as control flow
try { return Success(Process()); }
catch (ValidationException ex) { return Failure(ex.Error); }
// ✅ CORRECT: Design to return Result
var validationResult = Validate(input);
if (validationResult.IsFailure)
return validationResult;
return Success(Process(input));
dotnet-domain-entity-generator - Use Result in factory methodsdotnet-cqrs-command-generator - Commands return Resultdotnet-cqrs-query-generator - Queries return Resultdotnet-pipeline-behaviors - Validation behavior uses Result