validator

Overview ¶

Package validator implements value validations for structs and individual fields based on tags. It can also handle Cross Field and Cross Struct validation for nested structs and has the ability to dive into arrays and maps of any type.

Why not a better error message? because this library intends for you to handle your own error messages.

Why should I handle my own errors? Many reasons, for us building an internationalized application I needed to know the field and what validation failed so that I could provide an error in the users specific language.

if fieldErr.Field == "Name" {
	switch fieldErr.ErrorTag
	case "required":
		return "Translated string based on field + error"
	default:
	return "Translated string based on field"
}

Custom Functions ¶

Custom functions can be added

// Structure
func customFunc(v *Validate, topStruct reflect.Value, currentStructOrField reflect.Value, field reflect.Value, fieldType reflect.Type, fieldKind reflect.Kind, param string) bool {

	if whatever {
		return false
	}

	return true
}

validate.RegisterValidation("custom tag name", customFunc)
// NOTES: using the same tag name as an existing function
//        will overwrite the existing one

Cross Field Validation ¶

Cross Field Validation can be done via the following tags: eqfield, nefield, gtfield, gtefield, ltfield, ltefield, eqcsfield, necsfield, gtcsfield, ftecsfield, ltcsfield and ltecsfield. If however some custom cross field validation is required, it can be done using a custom validation.

Why not just have cross fields validation tags i.e. only eqcsfield and not eqfield; the reason is efficiency, if you want to check a field within the same struct eqfield only has to find the field on the same struct, 1 level; but if we used eqcsfield it could be multiple levels down.

type Inner struct {
	StartDate time.Time
}

type Outer struct {
	InnerStructField *Inner
	CreatedAt time.Time      `validate:"ltecsfield=InnerStructField.StartDate"`
}

now := time.Now()

inner := &Inner{
	StartDate: now,
}

outer := &Outer{
	InnerStructField: inner,
	CreatedAt: now,
}

errs := validate.Struct(outer)

// NOTE: when calling validate.Struct(val) topStruct will be the top level struct passed
//       into the function
//       when calling validate.FieldWithValue(val, field, tag) val will be
//       whatever you pass, struct, field...
//       when calling validate.Field(field, tag) val will be nil

Multiple Validators ¶

Multiple validators on a field will process in the order defined

type Test struct {
	Field `validate:"max=10,min=1"`
}

// max will be checked then min

Bad Validator definitions are not handled by the library

type Test struct {
	Field `validate:"min=10,max=0"`
}

// this definition of min max will never succeed

Baked In Validators and Tags ¶

NOTE: Baked In Cross field validation only compares fields on the same struct, if cross field + cross struct validation is needed your own custom validator should be implemented.

NOTE2: comma is the default separator of validation tags, if you wish to have a comma included within the parameter i.e. excludesall=, you will need to use the UTF-8 hex representation 0x2C, which is replaced in the code as a comma, so the above will become excludesall=0x2C

NOTE3: pipe is the default separator of or validation tags, if you wish to have a pipe included within the parameter i.e. excludesall=| you will need to use the UTF-8 hex representation 0x7C, which is replaced in the code as a pipe, so the above will become excludesall=0x7C

Here is a list of the current built in validators:

-
	Tells the validation to skip this struct field; this is particularily
	handy in ignoring embedded structs from being validated. (Usage: -)

|
	This is the 'or' operator allowing multiple validators to be used and
	accepted. (Usage: rbg|rgba) <-- this would allow either rgb or rgba
	colors to be accepted. This can also be combined with 'and' for example
	( Usage: omitempty,rgb|rgba)

structonly
	When a field that is a nest struct in encountered and contains this flag
	any validation on the nested struct will be run, but none of the nested
	struct fields will be validated. This is usefull if inside of you program
	you know the struct will be valid, but need to verify it has been assigned.
	NOTE: only "required" and "omitempty" can be used on a struct itself.

exists
	Is a special tag without a validation function attached. It is used when a field
	is a Pointer, Interface or Invalid and you wish to validate that it exists.
	Example: want to ensure a bool exists if you define the bool as a pointer and
	use exists it will ensure there is a value; couldn't use required as it would
	fail when the bool was false. exists will fail is the value is a Pointer, Interface
	or Invalid and is nil. (Usage: exists)

omitempty
	Allows conditional validation, for example if a field is not set with
	a value (Determined by the "required" validator) then other validation
	such as min or max won't run, but if a value is set validation will run.
	(Usage: omitempty)

dive
	This tells the validator to dive into a slice, array or map and validate that
	level of the slice, array or map with the validation tags that follow.
	Multidimensional nesting is also supported, each level you wish to dive will
	require another dive tag. (Usage: dive)
	Example: [][]string with validation tag "gt=0,dive,len=1,dive,required"
	gt=0 will be applied to []
	len=1 will be applied to []string
	required will be applied to string
	Example2: [][]string with validation tag "gt=0,dive,dive,required"
	gt=0 will be applied to []
	[]string will be spared validation
	required will be applied to string

required
	This validates that the value is not the data types default zero value.
	For numbers ensures value is not zero. For strings ensures value is
	not "". For slices, maps, pointers, interfaces, channels and functions
	ensures the value is not nil.
	(Usage: required)

len
	For numbers, max will ensure that the value is
	equal to the parameter given. For strings, it checks that
	the string length is exactly that number of characters. For slices,
	arrays, and maps, validates the number of items. (Usage: len=10)

max
	For numbers, max will ensure that the value is
	less than or equal to the parameter given. For strings, it checks
	that the string length is at most that number of characters. For
	slices, arrays, and maps, validates the number of items. (Usage: max=10)

min
	For numbers, min will ensure that the value is
	greater or equal to the parameter given. For strings, it checks that
	the string length is at least that number of characters. For slices,
	arrays, and maps, validates the number of items. (Usage: min=10)

eq
	For strings & numbers, eq will ensure that the value is
	equal to the parameter given. For slices, arrays, and maps,
	validates the number of items. (Usage: eq=10)

ne
	For strings & numbers, eq will ensure that the value is not
	equal to the parameter given. For slices, arrays, and maps,
	validates the number of items. (Usage: eq=10)

gt
	For numbers, this will ensure that the value is greater than the
	parameter given. For strings, it checks that the string length
	is greater than that number of characters. For slices, arrays
	and maps it validates the number of items. (Usage: gt=10)
	For time.Time ensures the time value is greater than time.Now.UTC()
	(Usage: gt)

gte
	Same as 'min' above. Kept both to make terminology with 'len' easier
	(Usage: gte=10)
	For time.Time ensures the time value is greater than or equal to time.Now.UTC()
	(Usage: gte)

lt
	For numbers, this will ensure that the value is
	less than the parameter given. For strings, it checks
	that the string length is less than that number of characters.
	For slices, arrays, and maps it validates the number of items.
	(Usage: lt=10)
	For time.Time ensures the time value is less than time.Now.UTC()
	(Usage: lt)

lte
	Same as 'max' above. Kept both to make terminology with 'len' easier
	(Usage: lte=10)
	For time.Time ensures the time value is less than or equal to time.Now.UTC()
	(Usage: lte)

eqfield
	This will validate the field value against another fields value either within
	a struct or passed in field.
	usage examples are for validation of a password and confirm password:
	Validation on Password field using validate.Struct Usage(eqfield=ConfirmPassword)
	Validating by field validate.FieldWithValue(password, confirmpassword, "eqfield")

eqcsfield
	This does the same as eqfield except that it validates the field provided relative
	to the top level struct. (Usage: eqcsfield=InnerStructField.Field)

nefield
	This will validate the field value against another fields value either within
	a struct or passed in field.
	usage examples are for ensuring two colors are not the same:
	Validation on Color field using validate.Struct Usage(nefield=Color2)
	Validating by field validate.FieldWithValue(color1, color2, "nefield")

necsfield
	This does the same as nefield except that it validates the field provided relative
	to the top level struct. (Usage: necsfield=InnerStructField.Field)

gtfield
	Only valid for Numbers and time.Time types, this will validate the field value
	against another fields value either within a struct or passed in field.
	usage examples are for validation of a Start and End date:
	Validation on End field using validate.Struct Usage(gtfield=Start)
	Validating by field validate.FieldWithValue(start, end, "gtfield")

gtcsfield
	This does the same as gtfield except that it validates the field provided relative
	to the top level struct. (Usage: gtcsfield=InnerStructField.Field)

gtefield
	Only valid for Numbers and time.Time types, this will validate the field value
	against another fields value either within a struct or passed in field.
	usage examples are for validation of a Start and End date:
	Validation on End field using validate.Struct Usage(gtefield=Start)
	Validating by field validate.FieldWithValue(start, end, "gtefield")

gtecsfield
	This does the same as gtefield except that it validates the field provided relative
	to the top level struct. (Usage: gtecsfield=InnerStructField.Field)

ltfield
	Only valid for Numbers and time.Time types, this will validate the field value
	against another fields value either within a struct or passed in field.
	usage examples are for validation of a Start and End date:
	Validation on End field using validate.Struct Usage(ltfield=Start)
	Validating by field validate.FieldWithValue(start, end, "ltfield")

ltcsfield
	This does the same as ltfield except that it validates the field provided relative
	to the top level struct. (Usage: ltcsfield=InnerStructField.Field)

ltefield
	Only valid for Numbers and time.Time types, this will validate the field value
	against another fields value either within a struct or passed in field.
	usage examples are for validation of a Start and End date:
	Validation on End field using validate.Struct Usage(ltefield=Start)
	Validating by field validate.FieldWithValue(start, end, "ltefield")

ltecsfield
	This does the same as ltefield except that it validates the field provided relative
	to the top level struct. (Usage: ltecsfield=InnerStructField.Field)

alpha
	This validates that a string value contains alpha characters only
	(Usage: alpha)

alphanum
	This validates that a string value contains alphanumeric characters only
	(Usage: alphanum)

numeric
	This validates that a string value contains a basic numeric value.
	basic excludes exponents etc...
	(Usage: numeric)

hexadecimal
	This validates that a string value contains a valid hexadecimal.
	(Usage: hexadecimal)

hexcolor
	This validates that a string value contains a valid hex color including
	hashtag (#)
	(Usage: hexcolor)

rgb
	This validates that a string value contains a valid rgb color
	(Usage: rgb)

rgba
	This validates that a string value contains a valid rgba color
	(Usage: rgba)

hsl
	This validates that a string value contains a valid hsl color
	(Usage: hsl)

hsla
	This validates that a string value contains a valid hsla color
	(Usage: hsla)

email
	This validates that a string value contains a valid email
	This may not conform to all possibilities of any rfc standard, but neither
	does any email provider accept all posibilities...
	(Usage: email)

url
	This validates that a string value contains a valid url
	This will accept any url the golang request uri accepts but must contain
	a schema for example http:// or rtmp://
	(Usage: url)

uri
	This validates that a string value contains a valid uri
	This will accept any uri the golang request uri accepts (Usage: uri)

base64
	This validates that a string value contains a valid base64 value.
	Although an empty string is valid base64 this will report an empty string
	as an error, if you wish to accept an empty string as valid you can use
	this with the omitempty tag. (Usage: base64)

contains
	This validates that a string value contains the substring value.
	(Usage: contains=@)

containsany
	This validates that a string value contains any Unicode code points
	in the substring value. (Usage: containsany=!@#?)

containsrune
	This validates that a string value contains the supplied rune value.
	(Usage: containsrune=@)

excludes
	This validates that a string value does not contain the substring value.
	(Usage: excludes=@)

excludesall
	This validates that a string value does not contain any Unicode code
	points in the substring value. (Usage: excludesall=!@#?)

excludesrune
	This validates that a string value does not contain the supplied rune value.
	(Usage: excludesrune=@)

isbn
	This validates that a string value contains a valid isbn10 or isbn13 value.
	(Usage: isbn)

isbn10
	This validates that a string value contains a valid isbn10 value.
	(Usage: isbn10)

isbn13
	This validates that a string value contains a valid isbn13 value.
	(Usage: isbn13)

uuid
	This validates that a string value contains a valid UUID.
	(Usage: uuid)

uuid3
	This validates that a string value contains a valid version 3 UUID.
	(Usage: uuid3)

uuid4
	This validates that a string value contains a valid version 4 UUID.
	(Usage: uuid4)

uuid5
	This validates that a string value contains a valid version 5 UUID.
	(Usage: uuid5)

ascii
	This validates that a string value contains only ASCII characters.
	NOTE: if the string is blank, this validates as true.
	(Usage: ascii)

asciiprint
	This validates that a string value contains only printable ASCII characters.
	NOTE: if the string is blank, this validates as true.
	(Usage: asciiprint)

multibyte
	This validates that a string value contains one or more multibyte characters.
	NOTE: if the string is blank, this validates as true.
	(Usage: multibyte)

datauri
	This validates that a string value contains a valid DataURI.
	NOTE: this will also validate that the data portion is valid base64
	(Usage: datauri)

latitude
	This validates that a string value contains a valid latitude.
	(Usage: latitude)

longitude
	This validates that a string value contains a valid longitude.
	(Usage: longitude)

ssn
	This validates that a string value contains a valid U.S. Social Security Number.
	(Usage: ssn)

ip
	This validates that a string value contains a valid IP Adress.
	(Usage: ip)

ipv4
	This validates that a string value contains a valid v4 IP Adress.
	(Usage: ipv4)

ipv6
	This validates that a string value contains a valid v6 IP Adress.
	(Usage: ipv6)

mac
	This validates that a string value contains a valid MAC Adress defined
	by go's ParseMAC accepted formats and types see:
	http://golang.org/src/net/mac.go?s=866:918#L29
	(Usage: mac)

Validator notes:

regex
	a regex validator won't be added because commas and = signs can be part of
	a regex which conflict with the validation definitions, although workarounds
	can be made, they take away from using pure regex's. Furthermore it's quick
	and dirty but the regex's become harder to maintain and are not reusable, so
	it's as much a programming philosiphy as anything.

	In place of this new validator functions should be created; a regex can be
	used within the validator function and even be precompiled for better efficiency
	within regexes.go.

	And the best reason, you can submit a pull request and we can keep on adding to the
	validation library of this package!

Panics ¶

This package panics when bad input is provided, this is by design, bad code like that should not make it to production.

type Test struct {
	TestField string `validate:"nonexistantfunction=1"`
}

t := &Test{
	TestField: "Test"
}

validate.Struct(t) // this will panic