Class Validation

Validation Class. Used for validation of model data

Offers different validation methods.

Namespace: Cake\Validation

Constants

string

DEFAULT_LOCALE ¶
```
'en_US'
```
Default locale

Property Summary

$_pattern protected static

array

Some complex patterns needed in multiple places
$errors public static

array

Holds an array of errors messages set in this class. These are used for debugging purposes

Method Summary

_check() protected static

Runs a regular expression match.
_getDateString() protected static

Converts an array representing a date or datetime into a ISO string. The arrays are typically sent for validation from a form generated by the CakePHP FormHelper.
_populateIp() protected static

Lazily populate the IP address patterns used for validations
_reset() protected static

Reset internal variables for another validation run.
alphaNumeric() public static

Checks that a string contains only integer or letters
ascii() public static

Check that the input value is within the ascii byte range.
blank() public static deprecated

Returns true if field is left blank -OR- only whitespace characters are present in its value Whitespace characters include Space, Tab, Carriage Return, Newline
boolean() public static

Boolean validation, determines if value passed is a boolean integer or true/false.
cc() public static

Validation of credit card numbers. Returns true if $check is in the proper credit card format.
compareWith() public static

Compare one field to another.
comparison() public static

Used to compare 2 numeric values.
containsNonAlphaNumeric() public static

Checks if a string contains one or more non-alphanumeric characters.
custom() public static

Used when a custom regular expression is needed.
date() public static

Date validation, determines if the string passed is a valid date. keys that expect full month, day and year will validate leap years.
datetime() public static

Validates a datetime value
decimal() public static

Checks that a value is a valid decimal. Both the sign and exponent are optional.
email() public static

Validates for an email address.
equalTo() public static

Checks that value is exactly $comparedTo.
extension() public static

Checks that value has a valid file extension.
fileSize() public static

Checks the filesize
geoCoordinate() public static

Validates a geographic coordinate.
inList() public static

Checks if a value is in a given list. Comparison is case sensitive by default.
ip() public static

Validation of an IP address.
isArray() public static

Check that the input value is an array.
isInteger() public static

Check that the input value is an integer
latitude() public static

Convenience method for latitude validation.
lengthBetween() public static

Checks that a string length is within specified range. Spaces are included in the character count. Returns true if string matches value min, max, or between min and max,
localizedTime() public static

Date and/or time string validation. Uses I18n::Time to parse the date. This means parsing is locale dependent.
longitude() public static

Convenience method for longitude validation.
luhn() public static

Luhn algorithm
maxLength() public static

Checks whether the length of a string is smaller or equal to a maximal length..
mimeType() public static

Checks the mime type of a file.
minLength() public static

Checks whether the length of a string is greater or equal to a minimal length.
money() public static

Checks that a value is a monetary amount.
multiple() public static

Validates a multiple select. Comparison is case sensitive by default.
naturalNumber() public static

Checks if a value is a natural number.
notBlank() public static

Checks that a string contains something other than whitespace
notEmpty() public static deprecated

Backwards compatibility wrapper for Validation::notBlank().
numElements() public static

Used to check the count of a given value of type array or Countable.
numeric() public static

Checks if a value is numeric.
range() public static

Validates that a number is in specified range.
time() public static

Time validation, determines if the string passed is a valid time. Validates time as 24hr (HH:MM) or am/pm ([H]H:MM[a|p]m) Does not allow/validate seconds.
uploadError() public static

Checking for upload errors
uploadedFile() public static

Validate an uploaded file.
url() public static

Checks that a value is a valid URL according to http://www.w3.org/Addressing/URL/url-spec.txt
userDefined() public static deprecated

Runs an user-defined validation.
utf8() public static

Check that the input value is a utf8 string.
uuid() public static

Checks that a value is a valid UUID - http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4122

Method Detail

_check() ¶ protected static

_check(string $check, string $regex): bool

Runs a regular expression match.

Parameters

string $check: Value to check against the $regex expression
string $regex: Regular expression

Returns

bool

_getDateString() ¶ protected static

_getDateString(array $value): string

Converts an array representing a date or datetime into a ISO string. The arrays are typically sent for validation from a form generated by the CakePHP FormHelper.

Parameters

array $value: The array representing a date or datetime.

Returns

string

_populateIp() ¶ protected static

_populateIp(): void

Lazily populate the IP address patterns used for validations

Returns

void

_reset() ¶ protected static

_reset(): void

Reset internal variables for another validation run.

Returns

void

alphaNumeric() ¶ public static

alphaNumeric(string|array $check): bool

Checks that a string contains only integer or letters

Returns true if string contains only integer or letters

$check can be passed as an array: ['check' => 'valueToCheck'];

Parameters

string|array $check: Value to check

Returns

bool

ascii() ¶ public static

ascii(string $value): bool

Check that the input value is within the ascii byte range.

This method will reject all non-string values.

Parameters

string $value: The value to check

Returns

bool

blank() ¶ public static

blank(string|array $check): bool

Returns true if field is left blank -OR- only whitespace characters are present in its value Whitespace characters include Space, Tab, Carriage Return, Newline

Parameters

string|array $check: Value to check

Returns

bool

boolean() ¶ public static

boolean(string $check): bool

Boolean validation, determines if value passed is a boolean integer or true/false.

Parameters

string $check: a valid boolean

Returns

bool

cc() ¶ public static

cc(string|array $check, string|array $type = 'fast', bool $deep = false, string|null $regex = null): bool

Validation of credit card numbers. Returns true if $check is in the proper credit card format.

Parameters

string|array $check: credit card number to validate
string|array $type optional: 'all' may be passed as a string, defaults to fast which checks format of most major credit cards if an array is used only the values of the array are checked. Example: ['amex', 'bankcard', 'maestro']
bool $deep optional: set to true this will check the Luhn algorithm of the credit card.
string|null $regex optional: A custom regex can also be passed, this will be used instead of the defined regex values

Returns

bool

compareWith() ¶ public static

compareWith(mixed $check, string $field, array $context): bool

Compare one field to another.

If both fields have exactly the same value this method will return true.

Parameters

mixed $check: The value to find in $field.
string $field: The field to check $check against. This field must be present in $context.
array $context: The validation context.

Returns

bool

comparison() ¶ public static

comparison(string $check1, string $operator, int $check2): bool

Used to compare 2 numeric values.

Parameters

string $check1: if string is passed for, a string must also be passed for $check2 used as an array it must be passed as ['check1' => value, 'operator' => 'value', 'check2' => value]
string $operator: Can be either a word or operand is greater >, is less <, greater or equal >= less or equal <=, is less <, equal to ==, not equal !=
int $check2: only needed if $check1 is a string

Returns

bool

containsNonAlphaNumeric() ¶ public static

containsNonAlphaNumeric(string $check, int $count = 1): bool

Checks if a string contains one or more non-alphanumeric characters.

Returns true if string contains at least the specified number of non-alphanumeric characters

Parameters

string $check: Value to check
int $count optional: Number of non-alphanumerics to check for

Returns

bool

custom() ¶ public static

custom(string|array $check, string|null $regex = null): bool

Used when a custom regular expression is needed.

Parameters

string|array $check: When used as a string, $regex must also be a valid regular expression. As and array: ['check' => value, 'regex' => 'valid regular expression']
string|null $regex optional: If $check is passed as a string, $regex must also be set to valid regular expression

Returns

bool

date() ¶ public static

date(stringDateTimeInterface $check, string|array $format = 'ymd', string|null $regex = null): bool

Date validation, determines if the string passed is a valid date. keys that expect full month, day and year will validate leap years.

Years are valid from 1800 to 2999.

Formats:

dmy 27-12-2006 or 27-12-06 separators can be a space, period, dash, forward slash
mdy 12-27-2006 or 12-27-06 separators can be a space, period, dash, forward slash
ymd 2006-12-27 or 06-12-27 separators can be a space, period, dash, forward slash
dMy 27 December 2006 or 27 Dec 2006
Mdy December 27, 2006 or Dec 27, 2006 comma is optional
My December 2006 or Dec 2006
my 12/2006 or 12/06 separators can be a space, period, dash, forward slash
ym 2006/12 or 06/12 separators can be a space, period, dash, forward slash
y 2006 just the year without any separators

Parameters

stringDateTimeInterface $check: a valid date string/object
string|array $format optional: Use a string or an array of the keys above. Arrays should be passed as ['dmy', 'mdy', etc]
string|null $regex optional: If a custom regular expression is used this is the only validation that will occur.

Returns

bool

datetime() ¶ public static

datetime(stringDateTimeInterface $check, string|array $dateFormat = 'ymd', string|null $regex = null): bool

Validates a datetime value

All values matching the "date" core validation rule, and the "time" one will be valid

Parameters

stringDateTimeInterface $check: Value to check
string|array $dateFormat optional: Format of the date part. See Validation::date() for more information.
string|null $regex optional: Regex for the date part. If a custom regular expression is used this is the only validation that will occur.

Returns

bool

decimal() ¶ public static

decimal(float $check, int|null $places = null, string|null $regex = null): bool

Checks that a value is a valid decimal. Both the sign and exponent are optional.

Valid Places:

null => Any number of decimal places, including none. The '.' is not required.
true => Any number of decimal places greater than 0, or a float|double. The '.' is required.
1..N => Exactly that many number of decimal places. The '.' is required.

Parameters

float $check: The value the test for decimal.
int|null $places optional: Decimal places.
string|null $regex optional: If a custom regular expression is used, this is the only validation that will occur.

Returns

bool

email() ¶ public static

email(string $check, bool $deep = false, string|null $regex = null): bool

Validates for an email address.

Only uses getmxrr() checking for deep validation, or any PHP version on a non-windows distribution

Parameters

string $check: Value to check
bool $deep optional: Perform a deeper validation (if true), by also checking availability of host
string|null $regex optional: Regex to use (if none it will use built in regex)

Returns

bool

equalTo() ¶ public static

equalTo(mixed $check, mixed $comparedTo): bool

Checks that value is exactly $comparedTo.

Parameters

mixed $check: Value to check
mixed $comparedTo: Value to compare

Returns

bool

extension() ¶ public static

extension(string|array $check, array $extensions = ['gif', 'jpeg', 'png', 'jpg']): bool

Checks that value has a valid file extension.

Parameters

string|array $check: Value to check
array $extensions optional: file extensions to allow. By default extensions are 'gif', 'jpeg', 'png', 'jpg'

Returns

bool

fileSize() ¶ public static

fileSize(string|array $check, string|null $operator = null, int|string|null $size = null): bool

Checks the filesize

Parameters

string|array $check: Value to check.
string|null $operator optional: See Validation::comparison().
int|string|null $size optional: Size in bytes or human readable string like '5MB'.

Returns

bool

geoCoordinate() ¶ public static

geoCoordinate(string $value, array $options = []): bool

Validates a geographic coordinate.

Supported formats:

<latitude>, <longitude> Example: -25.274398, 133.775136

Options

type - A string of the coordinate format, right now only latLong.
format - By default both, can be long and lat as well to validate only a part of the coordinate.

Parameters

string $value: Geographic location as string
array $options optional: Options for the validation logic.

Returns

bool

inList() ¶ public static

inList(string $check, array $list, bool $caseInsensitive = false): bool

Checks if a value is in a given list. Comparison is case sensitive by default.

Parameters

string $check: Value to check.
array $list: List to check against.
bool $caseInsensitive optional: Set to true for case insensitive comparison.

Returns

bool

ip() ¶ public static

ip(string $check, string $type = 'both'): bool

Validation of an IP address.

Parameters

string $check: The string to test.
string $type optional: The IP Protocol version to validate against

Returns

bool

isArray() ¶ public static

isArray(array $value): bool

Check that the input value is an array.

Parameters

array $value: The value to check

Returns

bool

isInteger() ¶ public static

isInteger(string $value): bool

Check that the input value is an integer

This method will accept strings that contain only integer data as well.

Parameters

string $value: The value to check

Returns

bool

latitude() ¶ public static

latitude(string $value, array $options = []): bool

Convenience method for latitude validation.

Parameters

string $value: Latitude as string
array $options optional: Options for the validation logic.

Returns

bool

Links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latitude

lengthBetween() ¶ public static

lengthBetween(string $check, int $min, int $max): bool

Checks that a string length is within specified range. Spaces are included in the character count. Returns true if string matches value min, max, or between min and max,

Parameters

string $check: Value to check for length
int $min: Minimum value in range (inclusive)
int $max: Maximum value in range (inclusive)

Returns

bool

localizedTime() ¶ public static

localizedTime(stringDateTime $check, string $type = 'datetime', string|int|null $format = null): bool

Date and/or time string validation. Uses I18n::Time to parse the date. This means parsing is locale dependent.

Parameters

stringDateTime $check: a date string or object (will always pass)
string $type optional: Parser type, one out of 'date', 'time', and 'datetime'
string|int|null $format optional: any format accepted by IntlDateFormatter

Returns

bool

Throws

InvalidArgumentException
when unsupported $type given

longitude() ¶ public static

longitude(string $value, array $options = []): bool

Convenience method for longitude validation.

Parameters

string $value: Latitude as string
array $options optional: Options for the validation logic.

Returns

bool

Links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longitude

luhn() ¶ public static

luhn(string|array $check): bool

Luhn algorithm

Parameters

string|array $check: Value to check.

Returns

bool

maxLength() ¶ public static

maxLength(string $check, int $max): bool

Checks whether the length of a string is smaller or equal to a maximal length..

Parameters

string $check: The string to test
int $max: The maximal string length

Returns

bool

mimeType() ¶ public static

mimeType(string|array $check, array|string $mimeTypes = []): bool

Checks the mime type of a file.

Parameters

string|array $check: Value to check.
array|string $mimeTypes optional: Array of mime types or regex pattern to check.

Returns

bool

Throws

RuntimeException
when mime type can not be determined.
LogicException
when ext/fileinfo is missing

minLength() ¶ public static

minLength(string $check, int $min): bool

Checks whether the length of a string is greater or equal to a minimal length.

Parameters

string $check: The string to test
int $min: The minimal string length

Returns

bool

money() ¶ public static

money(string $check, string $symbolPosition = 'left'): bool

Checks that a value is a monetary amount.

Parameters

string $check: Value to check
string $symbolPosition optional: Where symbol is located (left/right)

Returns

bool

multiple() ¶ public static

multiple(array $check, array $options = [], bool $caseInsensitive = false): bool

Validates a multiple select. Comparison is case sensitive by default.

Valid Options

in => provide a list of choices that selections must be made from
max => maximum number of non-zero choices that can be made
min => minimum number of non-zero choices that can be made

Parameters

array $check: Value to check
array $options optional: Options for the check.
bool $caseInsensitive optional: Set to true for case insensitive comparison.

Returns

bool

naturalNumber() ¶ public static

naturalNumber(string $check, bool $allowZero = false): bool

Checks if a value is a natural number.

Parameters

string $check: Value to check
bool $allowZero optional: Set true to allow zero, defaults to false

Returns

bool

notBlank() ¶ public static

notBlank(string|array $check): bool

Checks that a string contains something other than whitespace

Returns true if string contains something other than whitespace

$check can be passed as an array: ['check' => 'valueToCheck'];

Parameters

string|array $check: Value to check

Returns

bool

notEmpty() ¶ public static

notEmpty(string|array $check): bool

Backwards compatibility wrapper for Validation::notBlank().

Parameters

string|array $check: Value to check.

Returns

bool

numElements() ¶ public static

numElements(arrayCountable $check, string $operator, int $expectedCount): bool

Used to check the count of a given value of type array or Countable.

Parameters

arrayCountable $check: The value to check the count on.
string $operator: Can be either a word or operand is greater >, is less <, greater or equal >= less or equal <=, is less <, equal to ==, not equal !=
int $expectedCount: The expected count value.

Returns

bool

numeric() ¶ public static

numeric(string $check): bool

Checks if a value is numeric.

Parameters

string $check: Value to check

Returns

bool

range() ¶ public static

range(string $check, int|float|null $lower = null, int|float|null $upper = null): bool

Validates that a number is in specified range.

If $lower and $upper are set, the range is inclusive. If they are not set, will return true if $check is a legal finite on this platform.

Parameters

string $check: Value to check
int|float|null $lower optional: Lower limit
int|float|null $upper optional: Upper limit

Returns

bool

time() ¶ public static

time(stringDateTimeInterface $check): bool

Time validation, determines if the string passed is a valid time. Validates time as 24hr (HH:MM) or am/pm ([H]H:MM[a|p]m) Does not allow/validate seconds.

Parameters

stringDateTimeInterface $check: a valid time string/object

Returns

bool

uploadError() ¶ public static

uploadError(string|array $check, bool $allowNoFile = false): bool

Checking for upload errors

Parameters

string|array $check: Value to check.
bool $allowNoFile optional: Set to true to allow UPLOAD_ERR_NO_FILE as a pass.

Returns

bool

uploadedFile() ¶ public static

uploadedFile(array $file, array $options = []): bool

Validate an uploaded file.

Helps join uploadError, fileSize and mimeType into one higher level validation method.

Options

types - An array of valid mime types. If empty all types will be accepted. The type will not be looked at, instead the file type will be checked with ext/finfo.
minSize - The minimum file size in bytes. Defaults to not checking.
maxSize - The maximum file size in bytes. Defaults to not checking.
optional - Whether or not this file is optional. Defaults to false. If true a missing file will pass the validator regardless of other constraints.

Parameters

array $file: The uploaded file data from PHP.
array $options optional: An array of options for the validation.

Returns

bool

url() ¶ public static

url(string $check, bool $strict = false): bool

Checks that a value is a valid URL according to http://www.w3.org/Addressing/URL/url-spec.txt

The regex checks for the following component parts:

a valid, optional, scheme
a valid ip address OR a valid domain name as defined by section 2.3.1 of http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1035.txt with an optional port number
an optional valid path
an optional query string (get parameters)
an optional fragment (anchor tag)

Parameters

string $check: Value to check
bool $strict optional: Require URL to be prefixed by a valid scheme (one of http(s)/ftp(s)/file/news/gopher)

Returns

bool

userDefined() ¶ public static

userDefined(string|array $check, object $object, string $method, array|null $args = null): mixed

Runs an user-defined validation.

Parameters

string|array $check: value that will be validated in user-defined methods.
object $object: class that holds validation method
string $method: class method name for validation to run
array|null $args optional: arguments to send to method

Returns

mixed

utf8() ¶ public static

utf8(string $value, array $options = []): bool

Check that the input value is a utf8 string.

This method will reject all non-string values.

Options

extended - Disallow bytes higher within the basic multilingual plane. MySQL's older utf8 encoding type does not allow characters above the basic multilingual plane. Defaults to false.

Parameters

string $value: The value to check
array $options optional: An array of options. See above for the supported options.

Returns

bool

uuid() ¶ public static

uuid(string $check): bool

Checks that a value is a valid UUID - http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4122

Parameters

string $check: Value to check

Returns

bool

Property Detail

`$_pattern` ¶ protected static

Some complex patterns needed in multiple places

Type

array

`$errors` ¶ public static

Holds an array of errors messages set in this class. These are used for debugging purposes

Type

array

Namespaces

Class Validation

Constants

Property Summary

Method Summary

_check() protected static

_getDateString() protected static

_populateIp() protected static

_reset() protected static

alphaNumeric() public static

ascii() public static

blank() public static deprecated

boolean() public static

cc() public static

compareWith() public static

comparison() public static

containsNonAlphaNumeric() public static

custom() public static

date() public static

datetime() public static

decimal() public static

email() public static

equalTo() public static

extension() public static

fileSize() public static

geoCoordinate() public static

inList() public static

ip() public static

isArray() public static

isInteger() public static

latitude() public static

lengthBetween() public static

localizedTime() public static

longitude() public static

luhn() public static

maxLength() public static

mimeType() public static

minLength() public static

money() public static

multiple() public static

naturalNumber() public static

notBlank() public static

notEmpty() public static deprecated

numElements() public static

numeric() public static

range() public static

time() public static

uploadError() public static

uploadedFile() public static

url() public static

userDefined() public static deprecated

utf8() public static

uuid() public static

Method Detail

_check() ¶ protected static

Parameters

Returns

_getDateString() ¶ protected static

Parameters

Returns

_populateIp() ¶ protected static

Returns

_reset() ¶ protected static

Returns

alphaNumeric() ¶ public static

Parameters

Returns

ascii() ¶ public static

Parameters

Returns

blank() ¶ public static

Parameters

Returns

boolean() ¶ public static

Parameters

Returns

cc() ¶ public static

Parameters

Returns

See Also