# NAME

Validation::Class - Self-Validating Object System and Data Validation Framework

# VERSION

version 7.85

# SYNOPSIS

    package MyApp::User;

    use Validation::Class;

    mixin basic     => {
        required    => 1,
        max_length  => 255,
        filters     => [qw/trim strip/]
    };

    field login     => {
        mixin       => 'basic',
        min_length  => 5
    };

    field password  => {
        mixin       => 'basic',
        min_length  => 5,
        min_symbols => 1
    };

    package main;

    my $user = MyApp::User->new(login => 'admin', password => 'secr3t');

    unless ($user->validate('login', 'password')) {

        # do something with the errors,
        # e.g. print $user->errors_to_string

    }

    1;

Validation::Class is a data validation framework and simple object system. It
allows you to model data and construct objects with focus on structure,
reusability and data validation. It expects user input errors (without dying),
validation only occurs when you ask it to. Validation::Class classes are designed
to ensure consistency and promote reuse of data validation rules.

[Validation::Class::Intro](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Intro) will help you better understand the framework's
rationale and typical use-cases while [Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype) will help
you discover all the bells-and-whistles included in the framework.

# DESCRIPTION

Validation::Class is much more than a robust data validation framework, in-fact
it is more of a data modeling framework and can be used as an alternative to
minimalistic object systems such as [Moo](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Moo), [Mo](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Mo), etc. Validation::Class aims
to provide the building blocks for easily definable self-validating data models.
For more information on the validation class object system, review
["the object system"](#THE OBJECT SYSTEM) section.

Validation classes are typically defined using the following keywords:

    * field     - a field is a data validation rule
    * mixin     - a field template
    * directive - a field/mixin rule attribute
    * filter    - a directive which transforms the field parameter value
    * method    - a self-validating sub-routine
    * object    - a simple object builder

To keep your class namespace clean and free from pollution, all inherited
functionality is configured on your class' prototype (a cached class
configuration object) which leaves you free to create and overwrite method names
in your class without breaking the Validation::Class framework, this all happens
much in the same way [Moose](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Moose) uses it's MOP (meta-object-protocol) having most
of the framework functionality residing in the Moose::Meta namespace. For more
information on the validation class prototype, review
["the prototype class"](#THE PROTOTYPE CLASS) section.

One very important (and intentional) difference between Moose/Moose-like systems
and Validation::Class classes is in the handling of errors. There are generally
two types of errors that occur in an application, user-errors which are expected
and should be handled and reported, and system-errors which are unexpected and
should cause the application to terminate or otherwise handle the exception. It
is not always desired and/or appropriate to crash from a failure to validate a
particular parameter. In Validation::Class, the application is not terminated or
validate automatically unless you configure it to.

Additionally, please review the [Validation::Class::Intro](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Intro) for a more in-depth
understanding of how to leverage Validation::Class.

# KEYWORDS

## attribute

The attribute keyword (or has) creates a class attribute. This is only a
minimalistic variant of what you may have encountered in other object systems
such as [Moose](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Moose), [Mouse](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Mouse), [Moo](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Moo), [Mo](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Mo), etc.

    package MyApp::User;

    use Validate::Class;

    attribute 'bothered' => 1;

    attribute 'attitude' => sub {

        return $self->bothered ? 1 : 0

    };

    1;

The attribute keyword takes two arguments, the attribute name and a constant or
coderef that will be used as its default value.

## build

The build keyword (or bld) registers a coderef to be run at instantiation much
in the same way the common BUILD routine is used in modern-day OO systems.

    package MyApp::User;

    use Validation::Class;

    build sub {

        my ($self, %args) = @_;

        # ... do something

    };

    # die like a Moose

    use Carp;

    build sub {

        my ($self, %args) = @_;

        my @attributes = qw();

        foreach my $attribute (@attributes) {

            confess "Attribute ($attribute) is required"
                unless $self->$attribute;

        }

    };

The build keyword takes one argument, a coderef which is passed the instantiated
class object.

## directive

The directive keyword (or dir) creates custom validator directives to be used in
your field definitions. It is a means of extending the pre-existing directives
table before runtime and is ideal for creating custom directive extension
packages to be used in all your classes.

    package MyApp::Directives;

    use Validation::Class;
    use Data::Validate::Email;

    directive 'is_email' => sub {

        my ($dir, $value, $field, $self) = @_;

        my $validator = Data::Validate::Email->new;

        unless ($validator->is_email($value)) {

            my $handle = $field->{label} || $field->{name};

            $field->{errors}->add("$handle must be a valid email address");

            return 0;

        }

        return 1;

    };

    package MyApp::User;

    use Validate::Class;
    use MyApp::Directives;

    field 'email' => {
        is_email => 1,
        ...
    };

    1;

The directive keyword takes two arguments, the name of the directive and a
coderef which will be used to validate the associated field. The coderef is
passed four ordered parameters, the value of directive, the value of the
field (parameter value), the field object (hashref), and the instantiated class
object. The validator MUST return true or false.

Additionally, if you only desire to extend the list of acceptable directives,
you can create a no-op by simply returning true, e.g.:

    directive 'new_addition' => sub {1};

## field

The field keyword (or fld) creates a data validation rule for reuse and validation
in code. The field name should correspond with the parameter name expected to
be passed to your validation class.

    package MyApp::User;

    use Validation::Class;

    field 'login' => {
        required   => 1,
        min_length => 1,
        max_length => 255,
        ...
    };

The field keyword takes two arguments, the field name and a hashref of
key/values pairs known as directives.

The field keyword also creates accessors which provide easy access to the
field's corresponding parameter value(s). Accessors will be created using the
field's name as a label having any special characters replaced with an
underscore.

    field 'login' => {
        required   => 1,
        min_length => 1,
        max_length => 255,
        ...
    };

    field 'preference.send_reminders' => {
        required   => 1,
        max_length => 1,
        ...
    };

    my $value = $self->login;

    $self->login($new_value);

    $self->preference_send_reminders;

Protip: Field directives are used to validate scalar and array data. Don't use
fields to store and validate objects. Please see the *has* keyword instead or
use an object system with type constraints like [Moose](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Moose).

## filter

The filter keyword (or flt) creates custom filters to be used in your field
definitions. It is a means of extending the pre-existing filters table before
runtime and is ideal for creating custom directive extension packages to be used
in all your classes.

    package MyApp::Directives;

    use Validation::Class;

    filter 'flatten' => sub {

        $_[0] =~ s/[\t\r\n]+/ /g;
        $_[0] # return

    };

    package MyApp::User;

    use Validate::Class;
    use MyApp::Directives;

    field 'description' => {
        filters => ['trim', 'flatten'],
        ...
    };

    1;

The filter keyword takes two arguments, the name of the filter and a
coderef which will be used to filter the value the associated field. The coderef
is passed the value of the field and that value MUST be operated on directly.
The coderef should also return the transformed value.

## method

The method keyword (or mth) is used to create an auto-validating method. Similar
to method signatures, an auto-validating method can leverage pre-existing
validation rules and profiles to ensure a method has the required data necessary
to proceed.

    package MyApp::User;

    use Validation::Class;

    method 'register' => {

        input  => ['name', '+email', 'login', '+password'],
        output => ['+id'], # optional output validation, dies on failure
        using  => sub {

            my ($self, @args) = @_;

            # .... do something registrationy

            $self->id(...); # set the ID field for output validation

            return $self;

        }

    };

    package main;

    my $user = MyApp::User->new(params => $params);

    if ($user->register) {
        ...
    }

    1;

The method keyword takes two arguments, the name of the method to be created
and a hashref of required key/value pairs. The hashref must have an "input"
variable whose value is either an arrayref of fields to be validated,
or a constant value which matches a validation profile name. The hashref must
also have a "using" variable whose value is a coderef which will be executed upon
successfully validating the input. Whether and what the method returns is yours
to decide.

Optionally the required hashref can have an "output" variable whose value is
either an arrayref of fields to be validated, or a constant value which matches
a validation profile name which will be used to perform data validation __after__
the coderef has been executed. Please note that output validation failure will
cause the program to die, the premise behind this decision is based on the
assumption that given successfully validated input a routine's output should be
predictable and if an error occurs it is most-likely a program error as opposed
to a user error.

See the ignore_failure and report_failure switch to control how method input
validation failures are handled.

## mixin

The mixin keyword (or mxn) creates a validation rules template that can be
applied to any field using the mixin directive. Mixin directives are processed
first so existing field directives will override the mixed-in directives.

    package MyApp::User;

    use Validation::Class;

    mixin 'constrain' => {
        required   => 1,
        min_length => 1,
        max_length => 255,
        ...
    };

    # e.g.
    field 'login' => {
        mixin => 'constrain',
        ...
    };

The mixin keyword takes two arguments, the mixin name and a hashref of key/values
pairs known as directives.

## profile

The profile keyword (or pro) stores a validation profile (coderef) which as in
the traditional use of the term is a sequence of validation routines that validate
data relevant to a specific action.

    package MyApp::User;

    use Validation::Class;

    profile 'signup' => sub {

        my ($self, @args) = @_;

        # ... do other stuff

        return $self->validate(qw(
            +name
            +email
            +email_confirmation
            -login
            +password
            +password_confirmation
        ));

    };

    package main;

    my $user = MyApp::User->new(params => $params);

    unless ($user->validate_profile('signup')) {

        die $user->errors_to_string;

    }

The profile keyword takes two arguments, a profile name and coderef which will
be used to execute a sequence of actions for validation purposes.

# METHODS

## new

The new method instantiates a new class object, it performs a series of actions
(magic) required for the class function properly, and for that reason, this
method should never be overridden. Use the build keyword to hooking into the
instantiation process.

    package MyApp;

    use Validation::Class;

    # optionally

    build sub {

        my ($self, @args) = @_; # is instantiated

    };

    package main;

    my $app = MyApp->new;

    ...

## prototype

The prototype method (or proto) returns an instance of the associated class
prototype. The class prototype is responsible for manipulating and validating
the data model (the class). It is not likely that you'll need to access
this method directly, see ["THE PROTOTYPE CLASS" in Validation::Class](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class#THE PROTOTYPE CLASS).

    package MyApp;

    use Validation::Class;

    package main;

    my $app = MyApp->new;

    my $prototype = $app->prototype;

    ...

# THE PROTOTYPE CLASS

This module provides mechanisms (sugar functions to model your data) which allow
you to define self-validating classes. Each class you create is associated with
a *prototype* class which provides data validation functionality and keeps your
class' namespace free from pollution, please see [Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype)
for more information on specific methods, and attributes.

All derived classes will have a prototype-class attached to it which does all
the heavy lifting (regarding validation and error handling). The prototype
injects a few proxy methods into your class which are basically aliases to your
prototype class methods, however it is possible to access the prototype directly
using the proto/prototype methods.

    package MyApp::User;

    use Validation::Class;

    package main;

    my $user  = MyApp::User->new;
    my $proto = $user->prototype;

    $proto->error_count # same as calling $self->error_count

# THE OBJECT SYSTEM

All derived classes will benefit from the light-weight, straight-forward and
simple object system Validation::Class provides. The conventional constructor
`new` should be used to instantiate a new object, and the `bld`/`build`
keywords can be used to hook into the instantiation process. Your classes can
be configured to cooperate with an existing design or modern OO framework like
[Moose](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Moose), [Mouse](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Mouse), [Moo](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Moo), etc. The following example explains how to setup a
Validation::Class class in cooperation with Moose (while this example focuses
on Moose, the approach is the same regardless of the existing system):

    # USING MOOSE AS YOUR PRIMARY OO SYSTEM

    package MyApp;

    use Moose;
    use Validation::Class '!has'; # in cooperative mode, dont export has()

    # you must run initialization routines yourself ...
    # specifying it in a BUILD routine will run it automatically

    sub BUILD {

        my ($self, $args) = @_;

        $self->initialize_validator(
            params => $args->{params}
        );

    }

    field login     => {
        min_length  => 5
        max_length  => 50
    };

    field password  => {
        min_length  => 8,
        min_symbols => 1
        max_length  => 50
    };

    # USING MOOSE AS YOUR SECONDARY/BACKUP OO SYSTEM

    package MyApp;

    use Validation::Class '!has'; # avoids has() keyword clash
    use Moose;

    field login     => {
        min_length  => 5
        max_length  => 50
    };

    field password  => {
        min_length  => 8,
        min_symbols => 1
        max_length  => 50
    };

    has database => (
        is  => 'rw',
        isa => 'DBI::db',
        ...
    );

    1;

This cooperation works by simply detecting the existence of a method named `new`,
the name traditionally reserved for a class constructor which if detected signals
Validation::Class to install a method named `initialize` as opposed to installing
its own constructor. The installed method, `initialize`, encapsulates the
functionality which prepares the class for interaction with its corresponding
prototype class, this function must be called before using the Validation::Class
features provided. If this concept isn't clear to you you needn't worry as this
is very low-level, all you need you understand is that Validation::Class
will install a constructor or a method named initialize if a constructor already
exists, either way, the installed method should be called before executing
methods on the class.

As previously stated, Validation::Class injects a few proxy methods into your
class which are basically aliases to your prototype class methods. You can
find additional information on the prototype class and its method at
[Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype). The following is a list of *proxy* methods,
methods which are injected into your class as shorthand to methods defined in
the prototype class (these methods are overridden):

## class

    $self->class;

See ["class" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#class) for full documentation.

## clear_queue

    $self->clear_queue;

See ["clear_queue" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#clear_queue) for full documentation.

## error_count

    $self->error_count;

See ["error_count" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#error_count) for full documentation.

## error_fields

    $self->error_fields;

See ["error_fields" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#error_fields) for full documentation.

## errors

    $self->errors;

See ["errors" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#errors) for full documentation.

head2 errors_to_string

    $self->errors_to_string;

See ["errors_to_string" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#errors_to_string) for full
documentation.

## get_errors

    $self->get_errors;

See ["get_errors" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#get_errors) for full documentation.

## get_fields

    $self->get_fields;

See ["get_fields" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#get_fields) for full documentation.

## get_params

    $self->get_params;

See ["get_params" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#get_params) for full documentation.

## fields

    $self->fields;

See ["fields" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#fields) for full documentation.

## filtering

    $self->filtering;

See ["filtering" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#filtering) for full documentation.

## ignore_failure

    $self->ignore_failure;

See ["ignore_failure" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#ignore_failure) for full
documentation.

## ignore_unknown

    $self->ignore_unknown;

See ["ignore_unknown" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#ignore_unknown) for full
documentation.

## param

    $self->param;

See ["param" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#param) for full documentation.

## params

    $self->params;

See ["params" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#params) for full documentation.

## plugin

    $self->plugin;

See ["plugin" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#plugin) for full documentation.

## queue

    $self->queue;

See ["queue" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#queue) for full documentation.

## report_failure

    $self->report_failure;

See ["report_failure" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#report_failure) for full
documentation.

## report_unknown

    $self->report_unknown;

See ["report_unknown" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#report_unknown) for full documentation.

## reset_errors

    $self->reset_errors;

See ["reset_errors" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#reset_errors) for full documentation.

## reset_fields

    $self->reset_fields;

See ["reset_fields" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#reset_fields) for full documentation.

## reset_params

    $self->reset_params;

See ["reset_params" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#reset_params) for full documentation.

## set_errors

    $self->set_errors;

See ["set_errors" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#set_errors) for full documentation.

## set_fields

    $self->set_fields;

See ["set_fields" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#set_fields) for full documentation.

## set_params

    $self->set_params;

See ["set_params" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#set_params) for full documentation.

## set_method

    $self->set_method;

See ["set_method" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#set_method) for full documentation.

## stash

    $self->stash;

See ["stash" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#stash) for full documentation.

## validate

    $self->validate;

See ["validate" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#validate) for full documentation.

## validate_method

    $self->validate_method;

See ["validate_method" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#validate_method) for full documentation.

## validate_profile

    $self->validate_profile;

See ["validate_profile" in Validation::Class::Prototype](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validation::Class::Prototype#validate_profile) for full documentation.

# EXTENDING VALIDATION::CLASS

Validation::Class does NOT provide
method modifiers but can be easily extended with [Class::Method::Modifiers](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Class::Method::Modifiers).

## before

    before foo => sub { ... };

See ["before method(s) => sub { ... }" in Class::Method::Modifiers](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Class::Method::Modifiers#before method(s) => sub { ... }) for full
documentation.

## around

    around foo => sub { ... };

See ["around method(s) => sub { ... }" in Class::Method::Modifiers](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Class::Method::Modifiers#around method(s) => sub { ... }) for full
documentation.

## after

    after foo => sub { ... };

See ["after method(s) => sub { ... }" in Class::Method::Modifiers](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Class::Method::Modifiers#after method(s) => sub { ... }) for full
documentation.

# SEE ALSO

Additionally you may want to look elsewhere for your data validation needs so
the following is a list of recommended validation libraries/frameworks you
might do well to look into. [Validate::Tiny](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Validate::Tiny) is nice for simple use-cases, it
has virtually no dependencies and solid test coverage. [Data::Verifier](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Data::Verifier) is a
great approach towards adding robust validation options to your existing Moose
classes. Also, I have also heard some good things about [Data::FormValidator](http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?Data::FormValidator)
as well.

# AUTHOR

Al Newkirk <anewkirk@ana.io>

# COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

This software is copyright (c) 2011 by Al Newkirk.

This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under
the same terms as the Perl 5 programming language system itself.