PRACTICAL FIELD GUIDE
Required or nullable: choose the empty-state contract
A nullable column and a required column encode different guarantees for every API caller. Decide how missing, empty and unknown values should behave before adding a not-null constraint.
MCPBackend editorial team · · Examples are illustrative
Put it into practice
- List valid creation states and distinguish an absent value from an empty string.
- Select required fields and defaults that reflect the product workflow.
- Test omitted, null and empty values through the actual endpoint and document the accepted forms.
What this looks like
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
A profile can exist before a user adds a biography. Requiring a biography at signup creates placeholder text rather than better data.
A boundary to keep clear
A not-null constraint does not reject an empty string. Content validation may still belong in application logic.
MCPBackend context
MCPBackend stores each project's data in SQLite and exposes supported tables through generated REST endpoints. Use the schema tools and dashboard for supported changes. The design examples here are patterns to adapt, not claims that the API exposes every SQLite feature or arbitrary SQL.
Take the next step
Inspect the current project contract, try the change with disposable data, and verify the result through the same credentials your app will use. Record the expected response and one denied-access case before release.
Sources and further reading
These references explain the underlying protocols and design principles. For supported MCPBackend operations and exact request shapes, inspect your project’s generated API contract.