What is ajv?
The ajv npm package is a fast JSON Schema validator that allows you to validate JSON data against a JSON schema. It supports the latest JSON Schema draft-07 and has several extensions. It can be used for data validation, data sanitization, and to ensure that JSON documents comply with a predefined schema.
What are ajv's main functionalities?
Validate data against a JSON Schema
This feature allows you to compile a JSON Schema and use it to validate JSON data. If the data does not conform to the schema, the errors can be logged or handled as needed.
{"const Ajv = require('ajv');
const ajv = new Ajv();
const schema = {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"foo": {"type": "integer"},
"bar": {"type": "string"}
},
"required": ["foo"]
};
const validate = ajv.compile(schema);
const valid = validate({foo: 1, bar: 'abc'});
if (!valid) console.log(validate.errors);"}
Add custom keywords
Ajv allows you to define custom keywords for a JSON Schema, which can be used to create custom validation rules that are not defined in the JSON Schema specification.
{"const Ajv = require('ajv');
const ajv = new Ajv();
ajv.addKeyword('even', {
validate: function(schema, data) {
return data % 2 === 0;
}
});
const schema = {"even": true};
const validate = ajv.compile(schema);
const valid = validate(2); // true
const invalid = validate(3); // false"}
Asynchronous validation
Ajv supports asynchronous schema compilation, which is useful when your JSON Schema depends on other schemas that need to be fetched remotely.
{"const Ajv = require('ajv');
const ajv = new Ajv({loadSchema: loadExternalSchema});
// Assume loadExternalSchema is a function that loads a schema asynchronously
ajv.compileAsync(schema).then(function(validate) {
const valid = validate(data);
if (!valid) console.log(validate.errors);
}).catch(function(err) {
console.error('Failed to compile schema:', err);
});"}
Other packages similar to ajv
joi
Joi is a powerful schema description language and data validator for JavaScript. Unlike ajv, which focuses on JSON Schema, Joi allows you to create validation schemas using a fluent API. It is often used for validating data in REST APIs.
tv4
Tiny Validator (tv4) is a small and fast JSON Schema (v4) validator. It is less feature-rich compared to ajv and does not support the latest JSON Schema specifications, but it is suitable for simple validation tasks.
jsonschema
The jsonschema package is another validator for JSON Schema that supports draft-04/06/07. It is not as fast as ajv but provides a straightforward API for validating JSON data against schemas.
Ajv: Another JSON Schema Validator
The fastest JSON Schema validator for Node.js and browser. Supports draft-06/07 (draft-04 is supported in v6).
Using version 7 (beta)
Ajv version 7 (beta) is released with these changes:
- to reduce the mistakes in JSON schemas and unexpected validation results, strict mode is added - it prohibits ignored or ambiguous JSON Schema elements.
- to make code injection from untrusted schemas impossible, code generation is fully re-written to be safe and to allow code optimization (compiled schema code size is reduced by more than 10%).
- to simplify Ajv extensions, the new keyword API that is used by pre-defined keywords is available to user-defined keywords - it is much easier to define any keywords now, especially with subschemas.
- schemas are compiled to ES6 code (ES5 code generation is supported with an option).
- to improve reliability and maintainability the code is migrated to TypeScript.
Please note:
- the support for JSON-Schema draft-04 is removed - if you have schemas using "id" attributes you have to replace them with "$id" (or continue using Ajv v6 that will be supported until 02/28/2021).
- all formats are separated to ajv-formats package - they have to be explicitely added if you use them.
See release notes for the details.
To install the new version:
npm install ajv@beta
See Getting started for code example.
Contents
Mozilla MOSS grant and OpenJS Foundation
Ajv has been awarded a grant from Mozilla’s Open Source Support (MOSS) program in the “Foundational Technology” track! It will sponsor the development of Ajv support of JSON Schema version 2019-09 and of JSON Type Definition.
Ajv also joined OpenJS Foundation – having this support will help ensure the longevity and stability of Ajv for all its users.
This blog post has more details.
I am looking for the long term maintainers of Ajv – working with ReadySet, also sponsored by Mozilla, to establish clear guidelines for the role of a "maintainer" and the contribution standards, and to encourage a wider, more inclusive, contribution from the community.
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.
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:
Features
Install
npm install ajv
To install version 7 beta:
npm install ajv@beta
Getting started
Try it in the Node.js REPL: https://runkit.com/npm/ajv
In JavaScript:
const Ajv = require("ajv")
import Ajv from "ajv"
const ajv = new Ajv()
const validate = ajv.compile(schema)
const valid = validate(data)
if (!valid) console.log(validate.errors)
In TypeScript:
import Ajv, {JSONSchemaType, DefinedError} from "ajv"
const ajv = new Ajv()
type MyData = {foo: number}
const schema: JSONSchemaType<MyData> = {
type: "object",
properties: {
foo: {type: "number", minimum: 0},
},
required: ["foo"],
additionalProperties: false,
}
const validate = ajv.compile(schema)
const data: any = {foo: 1}
if (validate(data)) {
console.log(data.foo)
} else {
for (const err of validate.errors as DefinedError[]) {
switch (err.keyword) {
case "minimum":
console.log(err.params.limit)
break
}
}
}
See this test for an advanced example, API reference and Options for more details.
Ajv compiles schemas to functions and caches them in all cases (using schema itself as a key for Map) or another function passed via options), so that the next time the same schema is used (not necessarily the same object instance) it won't be compiled again.
The best performance is achieved when using compiled functions returned by compile
or getSchema
methods (there is no additional function call).
Please note: every time a validation function or ajv.validate
are called errors
property is overwritten. You need to copy errors
array reference to another variable if you want to use it later (e.g., in the callback). See Validation errors
Using in browser
See Content Security Policies to decide the best approach how to use Ajv in the browser.
Whether you use Ajv or compiled schemas, it is recommended that you bundle them together with your code.
If you need to use Ajv in several bundles you can create a separate UMD bundle using npm run bundle
script (thanks to siddo420).
Then you need to load Ajv in the browser:
<script src="ajv.min.js"></script>
This bundle can be used with different module systems; it creates global Ajv
if no module system is found.
The browser bundle is available on cdnjs.
Please note: some frameworks, e.g. Dojo, may redefine global require in such way that is not compatible with CommonJS module format. In such case Ajv bundle has to be loaded before the framework and then you can use global Ajv (see issue #234).
Command line interface
CLI is available as a separate npm package ajv-cli. It supports:
- compiling JSON Schemas to test their validity
- BETA: generating standalone module exporting a validation function to be used without Ajv (using ajv-pack)
- migrate schemas to draft-07 (using json-schema-migrate)
- validating data file(s) against JSON Schema
- testing expected validity of data against JSON Schema
- referenced schemas
- user-defined meta-schemas
- files in JSON, JSON5, YAML, and JavaScript format
- all Ajv options
- reporting changes in data after validation in JSON-patch format
Plugins
Ajv can be extended with plugins that add keywords, formats or functions to process generated code. When such plugin is published as npm package it is recommended that it follows these conventions:
- it exports a function
- this function accepts ajv instance as the first parameter and returns the same instance to allow chaining
- this function can accept an optional configuration as the second parameter
Youcan import Plugin
interface from ajv if you use Typescript.
If you have published a useful plugin please submit a PR to add it to the next section.
Related packages
- ajv-bsontype - plugin to validate mongodb's bsonType formats
- ajv-cli - command line interface
- ajv-formats - formats defined in JSON Schema specification.
- ajv-errors - plugin for defining error messages in the schema
- ajv-i18n - internationalised error messages
- ajv-istanbul - plugin to instrument generated validation code to measure test coverage of your schemas
- ajv-keywords - plugin with additional validation keywords (select, typeof, etc.)
- ajv-merge-patch - plugin with keywords $merge and $patch
- ajv-pack - produces a compact module exporting validation functions
- ajv-formats-draft2019 - format validators for draft2019 that aren't included in ajv-formats (ie.
idn-hostname
, idn-email
, iri
, iri-reference
and duration
).
Some packages using Ajv
Tests
npm install
git submodule update --init
npm test
Contributing
npm run build
- compiles typescript to dist folder.
npm run watch
- automatically compiles typescript when files in lib folder change
Please see Contributing guidelines
Changes history
See https://github.com/ajv-validator/ajv/releases
Please note: Changes in version 7.0.0-beta
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