Head-to-Head: Ajv vs Zod Analysis

ajv

v8.17.1(about 2 months ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 4Monthly npm downloads

Ajv (Another JSON Schema Validator) is a fast and efficient JSON schema validator for JavaScript. It allows you to define and validate JSON schemas to ensure the structure and data integrity of JSON documents. Ajv supports JSON Schema draft-04, draft-06, draft-07, and JSON Type Definition (RFC8927) standards, making it versatile and compatible with various schema formats.

Alternatives:
joi+
yup+
zod+
superstruct+
jsonschema+
io-ts+
runtypes+
typescript-json-schema+
class-validator+
vest+

Tags: javascriptjsonschemavalidationperformance

zod

v3.23.8(4 months ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 0Monthly npm downloads

Zod is a TypeScript-first schema declaration and validation library that focuses on simplicity, type-safety, and developer experience. It allows you to define schemas for data validation and parsing with a concise and intuitive syntax, leveraging the power of TypeScript's type system. Zod provides a rich set of validation methods and error handling capabilities, making it easy to ensure data integrity and consistency in your applications.

Alternatives:
yup+
joi+
superstruct+
io-ts+
ajv+
class-validator+
runtypes+
computed-types+
typescript-is+
vest+

Tags: typescriptvalidationschemadatatype-safety

Fight!

Popularity

Ajv has been around for longer and is widely used in the JavaScript community. It has a large user base and is considered one of the most popular JSON schema validators. Zod, on the other hand, is a relatively newer library but has gained popularity due to its simplicity and developer-friendly API.

Size

Zod is a lightweight library with a smaller bundle size compared to Ajv. It focuses on providing a minimalistic and efficient validation solution. Ajv, while more feature-rich, has a larger codebase and may result in a larger bundle size.

Validation Features

Both Ajv and Zod provide comprehensive validation features. Ajv supports JSON Schema draft-07 and has extensive support for JSON Schema validation keywords. It also offers advanced features like asynchronous validation and custom keyword definitions. Zod, on the other hand, provides a simpler and more intuitive API for defining and validating data structures. It offers a fluent interface and supports runtime type checking.

Developer Experience

Zod focuses on providing a great developer experience with a clean and intuitive API. It offers strong typing support for TypeScript and provides detailed error messages. Ajv, while powerful, has a steeper learning curve and may require more configuration for advanced use cases. It also has good TypeScript support but may not be as developer-friendly as Zod.

Extensibility

Ajv provides extensive support for custom keyword definitions, allowing developers to extend its functionality. It has a large ecosystem of plugins and integrations. Zod, on the other hand, is more opinionated and does not provide as much flexibility for customizations. It focuses on providing a simple and straightforward validation solution.

Maintenance

Both Ajv and Zod are actively maintained by their respective communities. Ajv has been around for a longer time and has a more established maintenance history. Zod, being a newer library, may have a smaller community but is actively maintained and has regular updates.