Research Zod Validation

Research Zod Validation Patterns

Use this skill when you need to:

• Learn Zod schema design patterns
• Understand validation error handling
• Research complex schema transformations
• Find type inference patterns
• Learn integration with forms and APIs

Process

1. Identify Validation Need

   • Form validation?
   • API request/response validation?
   • Environment variables?
   • Complex transformations?

2. Search Documentation (Ref)

   Query patterns:
   - "Zod [schema type] validation"
   - "Zod error handling"
   - "Zod schema composition"
   - "Zod TypeScript integration"
   

3. Find Implementation Examples (Exa)

   Query patterns:
   - "Zod schema validation Next.js API route example"
   - "Zod React Hook Form integration validation"
   - "Zod complex nested schema transformation example"
   - "Zod custom error messages refinement example"
   

Common Research Topics

Basic Schemas

// Documentation
Query: "Zod schema types string number object"

// Code examples
Query: "Zod schema validation string email number positive example"

Schema Composition

// Documentation
Query: "Zod schema composition extend merge pick omit"

// Code examples
Query: "Zod extend schema reuse base schema example"

Transformations

// Documentation
Query: "Zod transform preprocess coerce"

// Code examples
Query: "Zod transform string to date lowercase example"

Refinements

// Documentation
Query: "Zod refine superRefine custom validation"

// Code examples
Query: "Zod refine password confirmation match example"

Error Handling

// Documentation
Query: "Zod error handling format messages"

// Code examples
Query: "Zod parse safeParse error handling Next.js API example"

Type Inference

// Documentation
Query: "Zod infer TypeScript types"

// Code examples
Query: "Zod infer schema to TypeScript type example"

Integration Patterns

React Hook Form

// Documentation
Query: "Zod React Hook Form resolver integration"

// Code examples
Query: "Zod React Hook Form validation zodResolver example"

Next.js API Routes

// Documentation
Query: "Zod Next.js API validation"

// Code examples
Query: "Zod Next.js route handler request body validation example"

Server Actions

// Documentation
Query: "Zod Next.js server actions validation"

// Code examples
Query: "Zod server action FormData validation example"

Environment Variables

// Documentation
Query: "Zod environment variables validation"

// Code examples
Query: "Zod env validation t3-env Next.js example"

Advanced Patterns

Discriminated Unions

Query: "Zod discriminated union schema validation example"

Recursive Schemas

Query: "Zod recursive schema tree structure validation example"

Async Validation

Query: "Zod async validation refine database check example"

Schema Merging

Query: "Zod merge schemas partial update validation example"

Custom Error Messages

Query: "Zod custom error messages field-specific validation example"

Form Validation Patterns

Multi-step Forms

Query: "Zod multi-step form validation partial schema example"

Dynamic Fields

Query: "Zod array schema dynamic form fields validation example"

File Uploads

Query: "Zod file validation size type validation example"

API Validation Patterns

Request Validation

Query: "Zod API request body query params validation example"

Response Validation

Query: "Zod API response schema validation type guard example"

Error Responses

Query: "Zod validation error API response format example"

Output Format

Provide:

1. Schema examples - Different schema patterns
2. Type inference - How TypeScript types are generated
3. Error handling - Best practices for user-friendly errors
4. Integration code - How to use with forms/APIs
5. Performance tips - When to use parse vs safeParse
6. Common patterns - Reusable schema utilities

Project Context

Your project uses:

• Zod 3.25.76
• React Hook Form 7.61.1
• Next.js API routes and Server Actions
• TypeScript strict mode
• @t3-oss/env-nextjs for environment validation

Common Use Cases

User Registration

Research: "Zod user registration schema email password validation"

Profile Updates

Research: "Zod partial schema optional fields validation"

API Integration

Research: "Zod API schema validation error handling Next.js"

Configuration

Research: "Zod config schema environment variables validation"

When to Use

• Validating form inputs
• Validating API requests/responses
• Type-safe environment variables
• Runtime type checking
• Data transformations
• Parsing external data
• Schema documentation

Type Safety Best Practices

Research:

• Type inference vs explicit types
• Generic schema functions
• Schema as single source of truth
• Integration with API types

Query: "Zod TypeScript best practices type inference patterns"

Related Skills

• research-typescript (for type patterns)
• research-nextjs (for API integration)
• research-react (for form integration)