Simplifying String Validation in Go: Introducing validatorgo
A library of string validators and sanitizers, based on the js library validator.js
Why Choose validatorgo?
Why not use popular Go libraries like Package validator or govalidator? While both libraries are well-known, validatorgo focuses on standalone string validation and provides an extensive collection of customizable validators inspired by validator.js, which neither of these Go libraries fully implement.
Here’s how validatorgo stands out compared to go-playground/validator and govalidator:
1. Compared to go-playground/validator
Direct String Validation: go-playground/validator is primarily built for validating struct fields using tags, which is ideal for handling JSON or struct-based data. However, it’s not designed for validating individual strings, which ValidatorGo does seamlessly, without the need for struct tags or additional setup.
Performance: go-playground/validator relies on reflection to dynamically inspect struct tags. While powerful, reflection can introduce performance overhead—especially when large or complex data structures are validated. validatorgo avoids reflection, which boosts performance, making it faster and more efficient for scenarios where single-field validations are needed.
2. Compared to asaskevich/govalidator
- Customization and Flexibility: govalidator provides a range of validators for strings, but validatorgo enhances flexibility by allowing specific options and configurations for individual validators. For example, date formats or locale specifications can be customized, giving developers more control over validation rules tailored to project needs.
Project Motivation
I created validatorgo to serve as a dependency for another Go library called ginvalidator, which validates HTTP requests in Go web applications. Inspired by express-validator, the popular validation library for Node.js and Express, ValidatorGo fills a gap in the Go ecosystem for efficient, customizable, and straightforward string validation. Since other libraries were either overkill, lacked functionality, or didn’t meet my use case, I built validatorgo to offer a practical solution.
Installation
Using go get.
go get github.com/bube054/validatorgo
Then import the package into your own code.
import ( "fmt" "github.com/bube054/validatorgo" )
If you are unhappy using the long validatorgo package name, you can do this.
go get github.com/bube054/validatorgo
Simple validator example
import ( "fmt" "github.com/bube054/validatorgo" )
Some Validators
Below is a list of validators provided by the validatorgo package, which covers various string formats and types, making it versatile for multiple validation needs.
Validator | Description |
---|---|
Contains | Checks if a string contains a specified substring. |
Equals | Validates if a string is exactly equal to a comparison string. |
IsAbaRouting | Checks if the string is a valid ABA routing number (US bank accounts). |
IsAfter | Validates if a date string is after a specified date. |
IsAlpha | Ensures the string contains only letters (a-zA-Z). |
IsAlphanumeric | Validates if a string contains only letters and numbers. |
IsAscii | Checks if the string contains only ASCII characters. |
IsBase32 | Checks if the string is a valid Base32 encoded value. |
IsBase64 | Validates if a string is in Base64 encoding. |
IsBefore | Ensures the date is before a specified date. |
IsBoolean | Checks if the string is either "true" or "false". |
IsCreditCard | Validates if the string is a valid credit card number. |
IsCurrency | Checks if the string is a valid currency format. |
IsDate | Validates if a string is a valid date. |
IsDecimal | Ensures the string represents a valid decimal number. |
IsEmail | Checks if the string is a valid email address format. |
IsEmpty | Validates if a string is empty. |
IsFQDN | Checks if the string is a fully qualified domain name. |
IsFloat | Ensures the string represents a floating-point number. |
IsHexColor | Validates if a string is a valid hex color (e.g., #FFFFFF). |
IsIP | Checks if the string is a valid IP address (IPv4 or IPv6). |
IsISO8601 | Validates if the string is in ISO8601 date format. |
IsLength | Checks if the string’s length is within a specified range. |
IsMimeType | Validates if the string is a valid MIME type. |
IsMobilePhone | Checks if the string is a valid mobile phone number for specified locales. |
IsMongoID | Validates if the string is a valid MongoDB ObjectID. |
IsNumeric | Ensures the string contains only numeric characters. |
IsPostalCode | Checks if the string is a valid postal code for specified locale. |
IsRFC3339 | Validates if the string is in RFC3339 date format. |
IsSlug | Checks if the string is URL-friendly (only letters, numbers, and dashes). |
IsStrongPassword | Ensures the string meets common password strength requirements. |
IsURL | Validates if the string is a URL. |
IsUUID | Checks if the string is a valid UUID (versions 1-5). |
IsUpperCase | Ensures the string is all uppercase. |
IsVAT | Checks if the string is a valid VAT number for specified countries. |
Matches | Validates if the string matches a specified regular expression. |
This table should cover most validators currently available in validatorgo. Make sure to refer to the package's documentation for more detailed usage of each validator.
⚠ Caution
When using a validator that requires an options struct (either a pointer or non-pointer), always provide values for all the struct fields explicitly.
Unlike in validator.js, where missing fields are automatically set to defaults, Go uses strict types.
This means missing values will default to false for booleans, 0 for number types, etc.
Not specifying all fields could lead to unexpected behavior if you're used to the JavaScript version.
Examples
go get github.com/bube054/validatorgo
Simple sanitizer example
import ( "fmt" "github.com/bube054/validatorgo" )
Sanitizers
Sanitizer | Description |
---|---|
Trim | Removes whitespace from both ends of the string. |
LTrim | Removes whitespace from the left side of the string. |
RTrim | Removes whitespace from the right side of the string. |
ToLower | Converts the entire string to lowercase. |
ToUpper | Converts the entire string to uppercase. |
Escape | Escapes HTML characters in the string to prevent injection attacks. |
Unescape | Reverts escaped HTML characters back to normal characters. |
NormalizeEmail | Standardizes an email address, e.g., removing dots in Gmail addresses. |
Blacklist | Removes characters from the string that match specified characters or patterns. |
Whitelist | Retains only characters in the string that match specified characters or patterns. |
Replace | Replaces occurrences of a substring with a specified replacement. |
StripLow | Removes control characters, optionally allowing some specified ones. |
TrimSpace | Trims all types of whitespace from both ends of the string. |
ToBoolean | Converts common truthy and falsy values in strings into boolean true or false. |
ToInt | Converts a numeric string into an integer, if possible. |
ToFloat | Converts a numeric string into a floating-point number, if possible. |
These sanitizers are often used to ensure data consistency and security by stripping out or modifying potentially unwanted or dangerous characters.
Make sure to refer to the official validatorgo documentation for specific implementations and examples of each sanitizer.
Summary
validatorgo is the ideal choice if you need:
- Efficient, reflection-free validations for individual fields without the performance costs associated with struct-based reflection.
- Highly customizable validation options that align with modern data formats, providing the same robustness as validator.js.
With validatorgo, you get a tool specifically designed for string validation, supporting both standalone and web application requirements in Go.
Maintainers
- bube054 - Attah Gbubemi David (author)
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