Head-to-Head: Joi vs Runtypes Analysis

joi

v17.13.3(about 1 month ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 5Monthly npm downloads

Joi is a powerful schema description language and data validator for JavaScript. It allows you to define a schema for your data and validate input against that schema, ensuring data integrity and consistency. Joi provides a rich set of validation rules and options, making it flexible and customizable for various use cases. It is widely used in Node.js applications for input validation, data transformation, and error handling.

Alternatives:
yup+
ajv+
zod+
class-validator+
superstruct+
express-validator+
validator+
schema-utils+
joi-browser+
prop-types+

Tags: javascriptvalidationschemadatavalidator

runtypes

v6.7.0(about 1 year ago)

This package was last published over a year ago. It may not be actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 0Monthly npm downloads

Runtypes is a library for runtime type checking in JavaScript. It allows you to define and validate complex data types at runtime, ensuring that your data conforms to the specified structure. Runtypes provides a simple and expressive syntax for defining types, making it easy to create robust validation logic for your applications.

Alternatives:
io-ts+
zod+
yup+
ajv+
joi+
class-validator+
superstruct+
prop-types+
tcomb+
typescript-json-schema+

Tags: javascripttype-checkingvalidationdata-typesruntime

Fight!

Popularity

Joi has been a popular choice for data validation in the JavaScript community for a long time. It has a large user base and is widely adopted. Runtypes, on the other hand, is a relatively newer library and has gained popularity in recent years. While it may not be as widely used as Joi, it has a growing community and is gaining traction.

API Design

Joi and Runtypes have different approaches to API design. Joi follows a schema-based approach where you define validation rules using a schema object. Runtypes, on the other hand, uses a more functional and type-safe approach where you define types and validate values against those types. The choice between the two depends on personal preference and the specific requirements of the project.

Type Safety

Runtypes provides better type safety out of the box as it is built with TypeScript in mind. It allows you to define and enforce complex runtime types, making it easier to catch type-related errors during development. Joi, on the other hand, does not have built-in TypeScript support and relies on runtime validation.

Extensibility

Joi has a rich ecosystem of plugins and extensions that allow you to extend its functionality and add custom validation rules. Runtypes, while not as extensible as Joi, provides a solid foundation for defining and validating types. It also allows you to compose and combine types to create more complex validations.

Performance

In terms of performance, Runtypes is generally faster than Joi due to its type-safe approach and optimized runtime checks. However, the performance difference may not be significant for most use cases unless you are dealing with a large number of validations.

Documentation

Both Joi and Runtypes have well-documented APIs and provide examples and guides to help developers get started. However, Joi has been around for longer and has a more extensive documentation and community resources available.