http://beanvalidation.org: Bean Validation API 
/*
 * Bean Validation API
 *
 * License: Apache License, Version 2.0
 * See the license.txt file in the root directory or <http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0>.
 */
package javax.validation;

import java.lang.annotation.Annotation;

import javax.validation.constraintvalidation.SupportedValidationTarget;


Defines the logic to validate a given constraint A for a given object type T. 

Implementations must comply to the following restriction:

    
    
  • T must resolve to a non parameterized type
    • 
    
  • or generic parameters of T must be unbounded wildcard types
    • 



 The annotation SupportedValidationTarget can be put on a ConstraintValidator implementation to mark it as supporting cross-parameter constraints. Check out SupportedValidationTarget and Constraint for more information. 
Author:Emmanuel Bernard, Hardy Ferentschik
Type parameters:
  • <A> – the annotation type handled by an implementation
  • <T> – the target type supported by an implementation
/**
 * Defines the logic to validate a given constraint {@code A}
 * for a given object type {@code T}.
 * <p>
 * Implementations must comply to the following restriction:
 * <ul>
 *     <li>{@code T} must resolve to a non parameterized type</li>
 *     <li>or generic parameters of {@code T} must be unbounded
 *     wildcard types</li>
 * </ul>
 * <p>
 * The annotation {@link SupportedValidationTarget} can be put on a
 * {@code ConstraintValidator} implementation to mark it as supporting
 * cross-parameter constraints. Check out {@link SupportedValidationTarget}
 * and {@link Constraint} for more information.
 *
 * @param <A> the annotation type handled by an implementation
 * @param <T> the target type supported by an implementation
 *
 * @author Emmanuel Bernard
 * @author Hardy Ferentschik
 */
public interface ConstraintValidator<A extends Annotation, T> {

	
Initializes the validator in preparation for isValid(Object, ConstraintValidatorContext) calls. The constraint annotation for a given constraint declaration is passed. 

This method is guaranteed to be called before any use of this instance for
validation.


The default implementation is a no-op.

Params:
  • constraintAnnotation – annotation instance for a given constraint declaration
/**
	 * Initializes the validator in preparation for
	 * {@link #isValid(Object, ConstraintValidatorContext)} calls.
	 * The constraint annotation for a given constraint declaration
	 * is passed.
	 * <p>
	 * This method is guaranteed to be called before any use of this instance for
	 * validation.
	 * <p>
	 * The default implementation is a no-op.
	 *
	 * @param constraintAnnotation annotation instance for a given constraint declaration
	 */
	default void initialize(A constraintAnnotation) {
	}

	
Implements the validation logic. The state of value must not be altered. 

This method can be accessed concurrently, thread-safety must be ensured
by the implementation.

Params:
  • value – object to validate
  • context – context in which the constraint is evaluated
Returns:false if value does not pass the constraint
/**
	 * Implements the validation logic.
	 * The state of {@code value} must not be altered.
	 * <p>
	 * This method can be accessed concurrently, thread-safety must be ensured
	 * by the implementation.
	 *
	 * @param value object to validate
	 * @param context context in which the constraint is evaluated
	 *
	 * @return {@code false} if {@code value} does not pass the constraint
	 */
	boolean isValid(T value, ConstraintValidatorContext context);
}