[hibernate-issues] [Hibernate-JIRA] Commented: (HV-435) org.hibernate.validator.constraints.impl.PatternValidator rejecting empty strings

org.hibernate.validator.constraints.impl.PatternValidator rejecting empty strings --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Key: HV-435 URL: http://opensource.atlassian.com/projects/hibernate/browse/HV-435 Project: Hibernate Validator Issue Type: Bug Components: validators Affects Versions: 4.1.0.Final Environment: Hibernate Core 3.5.6 with MySql database (not relevant to this bug) Reporter: Stephen Hiley Original Estimate: 1h Remaining Estimate: 1h The PatternValidator currently checks for a null value and returns true from isValid() in that case. An empty string should have the same effect. This is necessary for the same reason: to allow for an empty form submission (which commonly are submitted as empty strings rather than nulls) and only validate when some value is submitted. IMO, this should be standard behavior. If nothing else, provide an option to treat empty strings as ignored in the same manner that null values are treated today. Suggested modification: public boolean isValid(String value, ConstraintValidatorContext constraintValidatorContext) { if ( value == null || value.length() == 0) { return true; } Thanks, Stephen Hiley