Validation

The ViewModelBase derives from ModelBase, thus all information here also applies to the ViewModelBase

Validation is very important for data objects. Therefore, the ModelBase supports all kinds of different validation:

The validation results are cached and only executed when a property changes (the object becomes dirty) or when the validation is forced.

Validation via validate methods

Validation via data annotations

Validation via special model validators

Validation via IValidator

Using the validation context

Getting a summary of validation results

Deferring validation

Different types of validation

There are two different types of validation in Catel, namely warnings and errors. There are also two flavors of validations, namely field validation and business rule validation.

Order of execution of events

The order of execution is very important if you want to perform very advanced validation (such as translating validations at the end of each validation sequence).

  1. IValidator.BeforeValidation
  2. OnValidation (raises Validating event) if not already validated
  3. IValidator.BeforeValidateFields
  4. OnValidatingFields (raises the ValidatingFields event)
  5. IValidator.ValidateFields
  6. ValidateFields
  7. OnValidatedFields (raises the ValidatedFields event)
  8. IValidator.AfterValidateFields
  9. IValidator.BeforeValidateBusinessRules
  10. OnValidatingBusinessRules (raises the ValidatingBusinessRules event)
  11. IValidator.ValidateBusinessRules
  12. ValidateBusinessRules
  13. OnValidatedBusinessRules (raises the ValidatedBusinessRules event)
  14. IValidator.AfterValidateBusinessRules end if not already validated
  15. OnValidated (raises the Validated event)
  16. IValidator.AfterValidation

There are lots of events, and it may seem complex and confusing at first sight. However, all these events give developers the opportunity to hook into the validation sequence at any time.


Contributions

We would like to thank the following contributors:

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Questions

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