Zod is TypeScript's most popular runtime validation library
Zod is TypeScript's most popular runtime validation library.
But, I just tried ArkType, and it's compelling.
Here's why:
- Simpler, TS-like API
- 100x faster than Zod
- Clean, easy to parse error messages
- Supports standard schema, so easy to switch
Syntax comparison:
A third option to consider: Valibot
- Similar API to Zod, but smaller bundle size
- Faster initialization than Zod or ArkType (so may be preferable for web apps where initialization speed is a primary concern).
In comparison, ArkType is more optimized for server-side validation since it takes extra time when a Type is created to optimize it, so later when validation runs, it's much faster.
In summary, Valibot is optimized for the client, and ArkType is optimized for the server. Both can be used in either spot, but tradeoffs to consider.
And if you're unfamiliar with Standard Schema, it's a standard that assures competing schema libraries all following a common standard.
Why? Then it's easier to switch between them, and it allows tools like form libraries to easily support all of them.
https://github.com/standard-schema/standard-schema?tab=readme-ov-file#what-tools--frameworks-accept-spec-compliant-schemas