What does input validation help prevent?

Input validation is a critical security practice that helps ensure that the data submitted to an application is in a valid format and adheres to specific rules set by the application developers. This process is vital in preventing injection attacks, such as SQL injection, command injection, or Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).

When user input is not validated, an attacker can input malicious data that the application might then process without proper checks. For instance, in the case of SQL injection, an attacker can provide input that manipulates the database query, potentially allowing them to gain unauthorized access, retrieve sensitive data, or even alter or delete data. By implementing robust input validation, an application can effectively restrict the types of data that can be submitted, thereby mitigating the risk of such attacks.

In contrast, performance issues, logical errors, and memory leaks are associated with other aspects of software development. While they are important to address in the context of software quality and security, they are not directly mitigated through input validation like injection attacks are. Thus, emphasizing the importance of this practice for securing applications and protecting against various vulnerabilities is key for any software development professional.