ajv vs zod vs joi vs yup vs class-validator
JavaScript Validation Libraries Comparison
1 Year
ajvzodjoiyupclass-validatorSimilar Packages:
What's JavaScript Validation Libraries?

JavaScript validation libraries are essential tools for ensuring that data conforms to specified formats and rules before processing it in applications. They help developers enforce data integrity, improve user experience by providing immediate feedback, and prevent errors that could arise from invalid data inputs. Each of these libraries offers unique features and approaches to data validation, catering to different use cases and developer preferences.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
ajv135,788,03114,1461.03 MB2929 months agoMIT
zod25,693,68337,080699 kB6202 months agoMIT
joi11,663,73421,067531 kB18610 months agoBSD-3-Clause
yup7,317,09223,303260 kB2464 months agoMIT
class-validator4,169,37211,3325.12 MB302a year agoMIT
Feature Comparison: ajv vs zod vs joi vs yup vs class-validator

Performance

  • ajv:

    AJV is known for its high performance, especially when validating large JSON datasets. It compiles schemas into efficient JavaScript functions, allowing for rapid validation without sacrificing accuracy. This makes it ideal for applications that require fast validation processes.

  • zod:

    Zod provides excellent performance, particularly in TypeScript environments. It is lightweight and fast, making it a good choice for applications that require quick validation without overhead.

  • joi:

    Joi offers good performance but can be slower than AJV due to its extensive feature set and flexibility. It is suitable for applications where validation complexity is high, and performance is a secondary concern.

  • yup:

    Yup is designed for usability and integrates well with React. Its performance is generally good, but it may not match the raw speed of AJV in high-load scenarios. It's optimized for form validation rather than bulk data validation.

  • class-validator:

    While class-validator is not as performance-optimized as AJV, it provides adequate performance for most applications, especially those that leverage TypeScript. The performance is sufficient for typical use cases involving class-based validation.

Ease of Use

  • ajv:

    AJV has a steeper learning curve due to its reliance on JSON Schema syntax, which may be unfamiliar to some developers. However, once mastered, it offers powerful validation capabilities.

  • zod:

    Zod is designed to be simple and intuitive, with a focus on TypeScript users. Its API is straightforward, allowing developers to define schemas with minimal boilerplate.

  • joi:

    Joi's API is highly expressive and allows for complex validation rules to be defined in a clear manner. Its chaining syntax is user-friendly, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels.

  • yup:

    Yup is particularly user-friendly, especially for React developers. Its fluent API allows for straightforward schema definitions, making it easy to implement validation in forms.

  • class-validator:

    Class-validator is easy to use for TypeScript developers, as it utilizes decorators that integrate naturally with class definitions. This makes it intuitive for those familiar with object-oriented programming.

Integration

  • ajv:

    AJV can be easily integrated into various frameworks and libraries, especially those that utilize JSON for data interchange. Its compatibility with JSON Schema makes it versatile for different applications.

  • zod:

    Zod is also designed for TypeScript-first applications, providing excellent integration with TypeScript projects. Its focus on type safety makes it a great choice for modern web applications.

  • joi:

    Joi is widely used in Node.js applications and integrates well with frameworks like Hapi and Express. Its flexibility allows it to be used in various contexts, from API validation to form validation.

  • yup:

    Yup is designed with React in mind, making it an excellent choice for form validation in React applications, particularly when used alongside Formik. Its integration with React hooks enhances its usability.

  • class-validator:

    Class-validator integrates seamlessly with TypeScript and works well with frameworks like NestJS. Its decorator-based approach makes it a natural fit for applications that use class-based structures.

Schema Definition

  • ajv:

    AJV uses JSON Schema for schema definitions, which is a standardized way to describe the structure of JSON data. This allows for complex validation rules but requires familiarity with JSON Schema specifications.

  • zod:

    Zod emphasizes type inference and safety in schema definitions, allowing developers to define schemas that are tightly coupled with TypeScript types. This reduces the risk of runtime errors due to type mismatches.

  • joi:

    Joi provides a powerful and flexible schema definition language that allows for complex validation rules to be expressed in a clear and concise manner. Its chaining syntax makes it easy to construct schemas.

  • yup:

    Yup also offers a fluent API for schema definition, allowing developers to build complex validation rules in a straightforward manner. Its syntax is particularly friendly for form validations.

  • class-validator:

    Class-validator allows schema definition directly within TypeScript classes using decorators, making it easy to define validation rules alongside data models. This approach enhances readability and maintainability.

Community and Support

  • ajv:

    AJV has a strong community and is widely used in various applications, which means there is ample support and documentation available. However, its reliance on JSON Schema can be a barrier for some users.

  • zod:

    Zod is newer but has quickly gained traction in the TypeScript community. Its focus on type safety resonates well with TypeScript developers, and community support is growing.

  • joi:

    Joi has a large user base and a wealth of resources, tutorials, and community support available. Its longevity in the ecosystem means that many developers are familiar with its features and usage.

  • yup:

    Yup has gained popularity in the React community, leading to a growing number of resources and community support. Its integration with popular libraries like Formik enhances its visibility and usage.

  • class-validator:

    Class-validator is well-supported within the TypeScript community, particularly among developers using NestJS. Its documentation is clear and helpful for new users.

How to Choose: ajv vs zod vs joi vs yup vs class-validator
  • ajv:

    Choose AJV if you need high-performance JSON schema validation and want to leverage the power of JSON Schema Draft 7 and beyond. It is particularly suitable for applications that require strict adherence to JSON standards and need to validate large datasets efficiently.

  • zod:

    Choose Zod if you want a TypeScript-first schema declaration and validation library that emphasizes type inference and safety. Zod is particularly beneficial for projects that prioritize type safety and want to ensure that validation logic is tightly coupled with TypeScript types.

  • joi:

    Select Joi if you are looking for a comprehensive and flexible validation library that provides a rich API for defining complex validation rules. It is well-suited for applications that require extensive validation logic and want to handle both synchronous and asynchronous validations easily.

  • yup:

    Use Yup if you prefer a schema builder for value parsing and validation that integrates well with React and Formik. Yup's fluent API allows for easy construction of validation schemas, making it a great choice for form validation in modern web applications.

  • class-validator:

    Opt for class-validator if you are working with TypeScript and prefer a decorator-based approach to validation. It integrates seamlessly with class-transformer, making it ideal for applications that utilize TypeScript classes for data models and want to maintain type safety.

README for ajv
Ajv logo

 

Ajv JSON schema validator

The fastest JSON validator for Node.js and browser.

Supports JSON Schema draft-04/06/07/2019-09/2020-12 (draft-04 support requires ajv-draft-04 package) and JSON Type Definition RFC8927.

build npm npm downloads Coverage Status SimpleX Gitter GitHub Sponsors

Ajv sponsors

Mozilla

Microsoft

RetoolTideliftSimpleX

Contributing

More than 100 people contributed to Ajv, and we would love to have you join the development. We welcome implementing new features that will benefit many users and ideas to improve our documentation.

Please review Contributing guidelines and Code components.

Documentation

All documentation is available on the Ajv website.

Some useful site links:

Please sponsor Ajv development

Since I asked to support Ajv development 40 people and 6 organizations contributed via GitHub and OpenCollective - this support helped receiving the MOSS grant!

Your continuing support is very important - the funds will be used to develop and maintain Ajv once the next major version is released.

Please sponsor Ajv via:

Thank you.

Open Collective sponsors

Performance

Ajv generates code to turn JSON Schemas into super-fast validation functions that are efficient for v8 optimization.

Currently Ajv is the fastest and the most standard compliant validator according to these benchmarks:

Performance of different validators by json-schema-benchmark:

performance

Features

Install

To install version 8:

npm install ajv

Getting started

Try it in the Node.js REPL: https://runkit.com/npm/ajv

In JavaScript:

// or ESM/TypeScript import
import Ajv from "ajv"
// Node.js require:
const Ajv = require("ajv")

const ajv = new Ajv() // options can be passed, e.g. {allErrors: true}

const schema = {
  type: "object",
  properties: {
    foo: {type: "integer"},
    bar: {type: "string"},
  },
  required: ["foo"],
  additionalProperties: false,
}

const data = {
  foo: 1,
  bar: "abc",
}

const validate = ajv.compile(schema)
const valid = validate(data)
if (!valid) console.log(validate.errors)

Learn how to use Ajv and see more examples in the Guide: getting started

Changes history

See https://github.com/ajv-validator/ajv/releases

Please note: Changes in version 8.0.0

Version 7.0.0

Version 6.0.0.

Code of conduct

Please review and follow the Code of conduct.

Please report any unacceptable behaviour to ajv.validator@gmail.com - it will be reviewed by the project team.

Security contact

To report a security vulnerability, please use the Tidelift security contact. Tidelift will coordinate the fix and disclosure. Please do NOT report security vulnerabilities via GitHub issues.

Open-source software support

Ajv is a part of Tidelift subscription - it provides a centralised support to open-source software users, in addition to the support provided by software maintainers.

License

MIT