Validation Rules

This document provides a comprehensive list of all built-in validation rules. Each rule includes a description, parameters (if any), and examples of usage.

• Required Rules: required, required_with, required_without, required_when, required_unless
• Number Rules: number, integer, gt, gte, lt, lte
• String Rules: email, url, alpha, alpha_numeric, matches, min_length, max_length, contains, starts_with, slug, password
• Array Rules: array_min_length, array_max_length
• Date Rules: date_format, date_after, date_before, date_between, age
• Special Rules: in_list, same_as

Cross-Field Validation

Many rules support referencing other fields using the @ symbol. This allows for dynamic validation based on other field values. For common examples, see the Common Validation Patterns guide.

Here's a quick example:

const rules = {
  'min_price': 'required|number',
  'max_price': 'required|number|gt:@min_price',
  'confirm_email': 'required|same_as:@email',
  'checkout_date': 'required|date_after:@checkin_date'
}

Required Rules

required

Validates that the field is present and not empty.

const rules = {
  'name': 'required'
}

required_with

Field is required when another specified field has a value.

Parameters:

• field: Reference to another field (using @)

const rules = {
  'shipping_address': 'required_with:@shipping_enabled'
}

required_without

Field is required when another specified field is empty.

Parameters:

• field: Reference to another field (using @)

const rules = {
  'phone': 'required_without:@email'
}

required_when

Field is required when another field equals a specific value.

Parameters:

• field: Reference to another field (using @)
• value: The comparison value

const rules = {
  'company_name': 'required_when:type,business'
}

required_unless

Field is required unless another field equals a specific value.

Parameters:

• field: Reference to another field (using @)
• value: The comparison value

const rules = {
  'guardian': 'required_unless:age,18'
}

Number Rules

number

Validates that the value is a valid number.

const rules = {
  'price': 'number'
}

integer

Validates that the value is a valid integer.

const rules = {
  'quantity': 'integer'
}

gt (Greater Than)

Validates that the number is greater than the specified value.

Parameters:

• value: Number or field reference (using @)

const rules = {
  'max_value': 'number|gt:@min_value',
  'age': 'number|gt:0'
}

gte (Greater Than or Equal)

Validates that the number is greater than or equal to the specified value.

Parameters:

• value: Number or field reference (using @)

const rules = {
  'quantity': 'number|gte:1'
}

lt (Less Than)

Validates that the number is less than the specified value.

Parameters:

• value: Number or field reference (using @)

const rules = {
  'discount': 'number|lt:100'
}

lte (Less Than or Equal)

Validates that the number is less than or equal to the specified value.

Parameters:

• value: Number or field reference (using @)

const rules = {
  'progress': 'number|lte:100'
}

String Rules

email

Validates that the value is a valid email address.

const rules = {
  'email': 'email'
}

url

Validates that the value is a valid URL.

const rules = {
  'website': 'url'
}

alpha

Validates that the value contains only alphabetic characters.

const rules = {
  'name': 'alpha'
}

alpha_numeric

Validates that the value contains only alphanumeric characters.

const rules = {
  'username': 'alpha_numeric'
}

matches

Validates that the value matches a regular expression pattern.

Parameters:

• pattern: Regular expression pattern

const rules = {
  'code': 'matches:^[A-Z]{2}\\d{4}$'
}

min_length

Validates minimum string length.

Parameters:

• length: Minimum length required

const rules = {
  'password': 'min_length:8'
}

max_length

Validates maximum string length.

Parameters:

• length: Maximum length allowed

const rules = {
  'title': 'max_length:100'
}

contains

Validates that the string contains a specific substring.

Parameters:

• substring: The substring to search for

const rules = {
  'domain': 'contains:example.com'
}

starts_with

Validates that the string starts with a specific substring.

Parameters:

• substring: The substring to check

const rules = {
  'product_code': 'starts_with:PRD-'
}

slug

Validates that the value is a valid URL slug (letters, numbers, dashes, underscores).

const rules = {
  'post_slug': 'slug'
}

password

Validates that the value meets password requirements.

Parameters:

• min_length: Minimum length (default: 8)
• max_length: Maximum length (default: 32)

Password must contain:

• At least one uppercase letter
• At least one number
• At least one special character

const rules = {
  'password': 'password:8,32'
}

Array Rules

array_min

Validates minimum array length.

Parameters:

• length: Minimum number of items required

const rules = {
  'tags': 'array_min:1'
}

array_max

Validates maximum array length.

Parameters:

• length: Maximum number of items allowed

const rules = {
  'selections': 'array_max:5'
}

Date Rules

date_format

Validates that the value is a valid date in the specified format. Accepts both string dates and Date objects.

Parameters:

• format: Date format. Supports both JS-style (yy) and legacy (YYYY) formats:
  • JS-style formats (default: 'yy-mm-dd'):
    • 'yy-mm-dd'
    • 'mm/dd/yy'
    • 'dd/mm/yy'
    • 'yy/mm/dd'
    • 'mm-dd-yy'
    • 'dd-mm-yy'
  • Legacy formats:
    • 'YYYY-MM-DD'
    • 'MM/DD/YYYY'
    • 'DD/MM/YYYY'
    • 'YYYY/MM/DD'
    • 'MM-DD-YYYY'
    • 'DD-MM-YYYY'

The rule performs strict date validation, ensuring:

• Valid month (1-12)
• Valid day for the given month (e.g., 30 days for April)
• Proper leap year handling for February

const rules = {
  // Using JS-style format (default)
  'birth_date': 'date_format:yy-mm-dd',
  
  // Using legacy format
  'start_date': 'date_format:YYYY-MM-DD',
  
  // Using other formats
  'expiry_date': 'date_format:mm/yy',
  'event_date': 'date_format:DD/MM/YYYY'
}

// Also works with Date objects
const data = {
  birth_date: new Date('2024-01-01'),
  start_date: '2024-01-01'
}

date_after

Validates that the date is after the specified date. Accepts both string dates and Date objects.

Parameters:

• date: Date string, Date object, or field reference (using @)
• format: (Optional) Date format for parsing string dates (defaults to 'yyyy-mm-dd')

[!INFORMATION] the date parameter can be provided in the format of the last parameter or in the yyyy-mm-dd format

const rules = {
  'end_date': 'date_after:@start_date',
  'event_date': 'date_after:2024-01-01,yyyy-mm-dd',
  'future_date': 'date_after:now'
}

// Also works with Date objects
const data = {
  end_date: new Date('2024-12-31'),
  start_date: new Date('2024-01-01')
}

date_before

Validates that the date is before the specified date. Accepts both string dates and Date objects.

Parameters:

• date: Date string, Date object, or field reference (using @)
• format: (Optional) Date format for parsing string dates (defaults to 'yyyy-mm-dd')

[!INFORMATION] the date parameter can be provided in the format of the last parameter or in the yyyy-mm-dd format

const rules = {
  'start_date': 'date_before:@end_date',
  'event_date': 'date_before:2024-12-31,yyyy-mm-dd',
  'past_date': 'date_before:now'
}

// Also works with Date objects
const data = {
  start_date: new Date('2024-01-01'),
  end_date: new Date('2024-12-31')
}

date_between

Validates that the date falls between two dates. Accepts both string dates and Date objects.

Parameters:

• start: Start date string, Date object, or field reference (using @)
• end: End date string, Date object, or field reference (using @)
• format: (Optional) Date format for parsing string dates (defaults to 'yyyy-mm-dd')

[!INFORMATION] the start and end can be provided in the format of the last parameter or in the yyyy-mm-dd format

const rules = {
  'event_date': 'date_between:2024-01-01,2024-12-31,yyyy-mm-dd',
  'booking_date': 'date_between:@checkin_date,@checkout_date'
}

// Also works with Date objects
const data = {
  event_date: new Date('2024-06-15'),
  checkin_date: new Date('2024-06-01'),
  checkout_date: new Date('2024-06-30')
}

age

Validates minimum age based on date of birth.

Parameters:

• years: Minimum age in years

const rules = {
  'birth_date': 'age:18'
}

Special Rules

same_as

Validates that the value matches another field's value.

Parameters:

• field: Reference to another field (using @)

const rules = {
  'password': 'required|password',
  'confirm_password': 'required|same_as:@password'
}

in_list

Validates that the value is in a list of allowed values.

Parameters:

• values: Comma-separated list of allowed values

const rules = {
  'status': 'in_list:pending,approved,rejected',
  'type': 'in_list:user,admin'
}

More Advanced Validation Patterns

For more complex validation scenarios like:

• Validating interdependent fields
• Custom validation functions
• Complex object validation

See the Complex Validation Patterns guide.