Electronic communications between a client device and a server device are improved by providing a middleware component that incorporates electronic data read and/or written to a database in a hybrid data structure. The hybrid structure is further designed to allow for “NULL” or other pre-defined data values when one or more data fields are unavailable or erroneous. The client device, in turn, can be configured to check for the pre-defined data values in certain fields and to gracefully process such values. The hybrid structure with pre-defined error values therefore provides for very efficient data transmittal and processing, while retaining the ability to handle errors or other unusual situations relating to the data.