Head-to-Head: Ajv vs Zod Analysis

ajv

v8.17.1(14 days ago)

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

Ajv is a fast and feature-rich 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 for various validation needs.

Alternatives:
joi+
yup+
zod+
class-validator+
superstruct+
jsonschema+
fastest-validator+
is-my-json-valid+
tv4+
parambulator+

Tags: javascriptjsonschemavalidationperformance

zod

v3.23.8(3 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 for JavaScript and TypeScript projects. It allows developers to define data schemas using a fluent API and perform type-safe runtime validation of data objects. Zod provides a simple and intuitive way to ensure data integrity and validate input/output data against predefined schemas.

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

Tags: typescriptvalidationschemadata integritytype-safe

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.