NAME

Data::Validate - common data validation methods

SYNOPSIS

use Data::Validate qw(:math);

if(defined(is_integer($suspect))){
	print "Looks like an integer\n";
}

my $name = is_alphanumeric($suspect);
if(defined($name)){
	print "$name is alphanumeric, and has been untainted\n";
} else {
	print "$suspect was not alphanumeric"
}

# or as an object
my $v = Data::Validate->new();

die "'foo' is not an integer" unless defined($v->is_integer('foo'));

DESCRIPTION

This module collects common validation routines to make input validation, and untainting easier and more readable. Most of the functions are not much shorter than their direct perl equivalent (and are much longer in some cases), but their names make it clear what you're trying to test for.

Almost all functions return an untainted value if the test passes, and undef if it fails. This means that you should always check for a defined status explicitly. Don't assume the return will be true. (e.g. is_integer(0))

The value to test is always the first (and often only) argument.

FUNCTIONS

new - constructor for OO usage

new();

Description

Returns a Data::Validator object. This lets you access all the validator function calls as methods without importing them into your namespace or using the clumsy Data::Validate::function_name() format.

Arguments

None

Returns

Returns a Data::Validate object

is_integer - is the value an integer?

is_integer($value);

Description

Returns the untainted number if the test value is an integer, or can be cast to one without a loss of precision. (i.e. 1.0 is considered an integer, but 1.0001 is not.)

Arguments

$value

The potential integer to test.

Returns

Returns the untainted integer on success, undef on failure. Note that the return can be 0, so always check with defined()

Notes, Exceptions, & Bugs

Number translation is done by POSIX casting tools (strtol).

is_numeric - is the value numeric?

is_numeric($value);

Description

Returns the untainted number if the test value is numeric according to Perl's own internal rules. (actually a wrapper on Scalar::Util::looks_like_number)

Arguments

$value

The potential number to test.

Returns

Returns the untainted number on success, undef on failure. Note that the return can be 0, so always check with defined()

Notes, Exceptions, & Bugs

Number translation is done by POSIX casting tools (strtol).

is_hex - is the value a hex number?

is_hex($value);

Description

Returns the untainted number if the test value is a hex number.

Arguments

$value

The potential number to test.

Returns

Returns the untainted number on success, undef on failure. Note that the return can be 0, so always check with defined()

Notes, Exceptions, & Bugs

None

is_oct - is the value an octal number?

is_oct($value);

Description

Returns the untainted number if the test value is a octal number.

Arguments

$value

The potential number to test.

Returns

Returns the untainted number on success, undef on failure. Note that the return can be 0, so always check with defined()

Notes, Exceptions, & Bugs

None

is_between - is the value between two numbers?

is_between($value, $min, $max);

Description

Returns the untainted number if the test value is numeric, and falls between $min and $max inclusive. Note that either $min or $max can be undef, which means 'unlimited'. i.e. is_between($val, 0, undef) would pass for any number zero or larger.

Arguments

$value

The potential number to test.

$min

The minimum valid value. Unlimited if set to undef

$max

The maximum valid value. Unlimited if set to undef

Returns

Returns the untainted number on success, undef on failure. Note that the return can be 0, so always check with defined()

is_greater_than - is the value greater than a threshold?

is_greater_than($value, $threshold);

Description

Returns the untainted number if the test value is numeric, and is greater than $threshold. (not inclusive)

Arguments

$value

The potential number to test.

$threshold

The minimum value (non-inclusive)

Returns

Returns the untainted number on success, undef on failure. Note that the return can be 0, so always check with defined()

is_less_than - is the value less than a threshold?

is_less_than($value, $threshold);

Description

Returns the untainted number if the test value is numeric, and is less than $threshold. (not inclusive)

Arguments

$value

The potential number to test.

$threshold

The maximum value (non-inclusive)

Returns

Returns the untainted number on success, undef on failure. Note that the return can be 0, so always check with defined()

is_equal_to - do a string/number neutral ==

is_equal_to($value, $target);

Description

Returns the target if $value is equal to it. Does a math comparison if both $value and $target are numeric, or a string comparison otherwise. Both the $value and $target must be defined to get a true return. (i.e. undef != undef)

Arguments

$value

The value to test.

$target

The value to test against

Returns

Unlike most validator routines, this one does not necessarily untaint its return value, it just returns $target. This has the effect of untainting if the target is a constant or other clean value. (i.e. is_equal_to($bar, 'foo')). Note that the return can be 0, so always check with defined()

is_even - is a number even?

is_even($value);

Description

Returns the untainted $value if it's numeric, an integer, and even.

Arguments

$value

The value to test.

Returns

Returns $value (untainted). Note that the return can be 0, so always check with defined().

is_odd - is a number odd?

is_odd($value);

Description

Returns the untainted $value if it's numeric, an integer, and odd.

Arguments

$value

The value to test.

Returns

Returns $value (untainted). Note that the return can be 0, so always check with defined().

is_alphanumeric - does it only contain letters and numbers?

is_alphanumeric($value);

Description

Returns the untainted $value if it is defined and only contains letters (upper or lower case) and numbers. Also allows an empty string - ''.

Arguments

$value

The value to test.

Returns

Returns $value (untainted). Note that the return can be 0, so always check with defined().

is_printable - does it only contain printable characters?

is_alphanumeric($value);

Description

Returns the untainted $value if it is defined and only contains printable characters as defined by the composite POSIX character class [[:print:][:space:]]. Also allows an empty string - ''.

Arguments

$value

The value to test.

Returns

Returns $value (untainted). Note that the return can be 0, so always check with defined().

length_is_between - is the string length between two limits?

length_is_between($value, $min, $max);

Description

Returns $value if it is defined and its length is between $min and $max inclusive. Note that this function does not untaint the value.

If either $min or $max are undefined they are treated as no-limit.

Arguments

$value

The value to test.

$min

The minimum length of the string (inclusive).

$max

The maximum length of the string (inclusive).

Returns

Returns $value. Note that the return can be 0, so always check with defined(). The value is not automatically untainted.

AUTHOR

Richard Sonnen <sonnen@richardsonnen.com>.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright (c) 2004 Richard Sonnen. All rights reserved.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.