ajv vs joi vs jsonschema vs z-schema
JSON Schema Validation Libraries Comparison
1 Year
ajvjoijsonschemaz-schemaSimilar Packages:
What's JSON Schema Validation Libraries?

JSON schema validation libraries are essential tools in web development for ensuring that JSON data structures conform to defined schemas. They help in validating data formats, types, and structures, which is crucial for maintaining data integrity and preventing errors in applications that rely on JSON for data interchange. These libraries provide various features such as performance optimization, extensibility, and ease of use, catering to different validation needs in both client-side and server-side applications.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
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ajv124,282,36514,0491.03 MB2867 months agoMIT
joi11,027,39921,043531 kB1848 months agoBSD-3-Clause
jsonschema3,593,4461,84183.5 kB64a month agoMIT
z-schema2,417,6073382.07 MB387 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: ajv vs joi vs jsonschema vs z-schema

Performance

  • ajv:

    AJV is known for its exceptional performance, making it one of the fastest JSON schema validators available. It compiles schemas into efficient JavaScript functions, which allows for rapid validation of large datasets, making it ideal for performance-critical applications.

  • joi:

    Joi is not as fast as AJV but offers a balance between performance and usability. It provides a rich set of validation features, which may introduce some overhead. However, for most applications, the performance is adequate and often overshadowed by its expressive API.

  • jsonschema:

    jsonschema is lightweight and performs well for basic validation tasks. However, it may not be as optimized for speed as AJV, making it more suitable for smaller projects or where performance is not the primary concern.

  • z-schema:

    z-schema offers good performance and is optimized for speed, particularly when validating large JSON documents. Its asynchronous validation capabilities also enhance performance in scenarios where validation may take time.

API Design

  • ajv:

    AJV provides a minimalistic and straightforward API that allows developers to define schemas and validate data with ease. It supports custom keywords and asynchronous validation, making it flexible for various use cases.

  • joi:

    Joi has a very expressive and intuitive API that allows for complex validation rules to be defined in a readable manner. Its chaining syntax makes it easy to create intricate validation schemas, which can enhance developer productivity.

  • jsonschema:

    jsonschema offers a simple API that closely follows the JSON Schema specification. It is easy to use for basic validations but may lack some advanced features found in other libraries, making it less flexible for complex scenarios.

  • z-schema:

    z-schema provides a comprehensive API that supports various JSON Schema drafts. It is designed for flexibility and allows for custom validation functions, although it may require more boilerplate code compared to Joi.

Extensibility

  • ajv:

    AJV is highly extensible, allowing developers to create custom validation keywords and formats. This makes it suitable for applications that require specific validation rules beyond the standard JSON Schema definitions.

  • joi:

    Joi is also extensible and allows for custom validation methods. Its rich API enables developers to easily create reusable validation logic, making it a great choice for complex applications with unique validation needs.

  • jsonschema:

    jsonschema has limited extensibility compared to AJV and Joi. It adheres closely to the JSON Schema specification, which may restrict the ability to implement custom validation logic without additional work.

  • z-schema:

    z-schema supports extensibility through custom validation functions, allowing developers to implement specific validation logic. However, it may require more effort to set up compared to AJV and Joi.

Learning Curve

  • ajv:

    AJV has a relatively low learning curve, especially for developers familiar with JSON Schema. Its straightforward API and comprehensive documentation make it easy to get started with schema validation.

  • joi:

    Joi has a gentle learning curve due to its intuitive API design. Developers can quickly grasp how to define schemas and validation rules, making it accessible for newcomers to validation libraries.

  • jsonschema:

    jsonschema is easy to learn for those familiar with JSON Schema, but its lack of advanced features may limit its appeal for more complex validation needs. It is suitable for developers looking for a simple validation solution.

  • z-schema:

    z-schema has a moderate learning curve. While it is not overly complex, its extensive feature set may require some time to fully understand and utilize effectively.

Community and Support

  • ajv:

    AJV has a robust community and is actively maintained, with frequent updates and a wealth of resources available for developers. This support can be invaluable when troubleshooting or seeking best practices.

  • joi:

    Joi is widely used in the Node.js community, which means there is a wealth of tutorials, examples, and community support available. Its popularity ensures that developers can find help easily.

  • jsonschema:

    jsonschema has a smaller community compared to AJV and Joi, which may result in fewer resources and examples. However, it is still a reliable choice for basic validation needs.

  • z-schema:

    z-schema has a moderate community presence, with decent documentation and support. While it may not be as widely adopted as AJV or Joi, it still offers sufficient resources for developers.

How to Choose: ajv vs joi vs jsonschema vs z-schema
  • ajv:

    Choose AJV if you need a high-performance JSON schema validator that supports the latest JSON Schema standards and offers features like asynchronous validation and custom keywords. It's particularly suitable for applications where speed is critical and you need to validate large datasets quickly.

  • joi:

    Select Joi if you prefer a more expressive and user-friendly API for schema validation, especially in Node.js applications. Joi allows for complex validation rules and is highly customizable, making it ideal for validating request payloads in APIs.

  • jsonschema:

    Opt for jsonschema if you are looking for a straightforward and lightweight library that adheres closely to the JSON Schema specification. It is suitable for projects that require basic validation without additional features or complexity.

  • z-schema:

    Consider z-schema if you need a JSON schema validator that supports draft-04 and draft-06 of JSON Schema, with additional features like asynchronous validation and a focus on performance. It's a good choice for applications requiring strict adherence to schema definitions.

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