Bean Validation

Java Bean Validation (JSR 303) is a framework that has been approved by the JCP as of 16 November 2009 and is accepted as part of the Java EE 6 specification. Bean Validation defines a metadata model and API for JavaBean validation. The metadata source is annotations, with the ability to override and extend the meta-data through the use of XML validation descriptors. The Hibernate team provides with Hibernate Validator the reference implementation of Bean Validation and also created the Bean Validation TCK any implementation of JSR 303 needs to pass.

Current Version

Bean Validation 1.1 (JSR 349) improves upon the initial version 1.0. Significant changes include:

• Validation of method arguments and return value
• Dependency Injection
• More open process in developing the specification

Final release of the 1.1 specification occurred 2013-05-24.

Further reading

• Open development work of both JSR 303 & 349
• Interview with Spec Lead Emmanuel Bernard
• JSR 303 Page
• Hibernate Validator
• Bean Validation TCK documentation
• How to run the Bean Validation TCK