Error handling

[msbtterswrth]

User Story

As a VA.gov front-end engineer,
I want to implement error handling logic for profile update failures within forms,
So that users can either resolve errors without blocking form progress or continue and update their profile later.

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Background

Currently, if an API error occurs when updating the profile information, there is no fallback to the forms-system, causing form progress to be blocked. We need to determine whether errors should continue to halt form progression or if users should be allowed to continue filling out the form and return later to update their profile.

Key Challenges:

• Blocking form progress due to a failed profile update may cause frustration and increase abandonment.
• Allowing users to proceed without updating could lead to incorrect or incomplete submissions.
• The system must provide clear, actionable guidance when an error occurs.

Engineering Goals

• Define and implement appropriate error handling behavior for profile update failures.
• Provide users with clear messaging about their options when errors occur.
• Ensure consistency with VA.gov’s existing error-handling patterns.

Technical Questions

• Should users be forced to update their profile before continuing the form?
• Should we provide an option to skip and return later if the profile update fails?
• How do we track when an error occurs so that users are reminded to complete their profile update?
• What kind of error messaging will guide users effectively?

Resources

• VA.gov error handling guidelines.
• Current API error responses for profile updates.
• Accessibility guidelines for error messaging.

Deliverables

• Implement error handling logic for profile update failures.
• Provide clear error messaging guiding users on how to proceed.
• Define tracking or notifications to remind users of unfinished updates.
• Write unit and integration tests to validate error handling scenarios.
• Update engineering documentation with implemented logic.

Acceptance Criteria

• Error handling logic is implemented, ensuring users understand their next steps.
• Users are informed when an error occurs and are provided with a clear path forward.
• The system either blocks form progress or allows users to continue, based on the final decision.
• Unit and integration tests cover various error states.
• Engineering documentation is updated to reflect new error-handling behavior.

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Constraints & Considerations

• Avoid creating dead-end error states where users cannot proceed.
• Ensure error messaging is clear, actionable, and accessible.
• Any solution must be scalable across multiple VA.gov forms.

Review needed by

• Engineering Team
• UX Team
• Product Manager
• Accessibility Specialist

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Definition of Done

• Documentation has been updated, if applicable.
• Acceptance Criteria in related issue are met.
• Code has been reviewed and approved.

[msbtterswrth]

Per Becky,

We should not block form progress if they can't update the profile. In that case, we should communicate the error to the user.