Data Validation
Validation ensures that a recipient enters information in the right format before they can complete their signing step. For example, if you need an email address, validation makes sure the recipient types something that looks like user@example.com rather than free-form text.
Validation applies to text fields only. It checks format, not whether the value is real or accurate.
Built-In Validation Types
Select a validation type in the Validation dropdown when you have a text tag selected.
Contact and Identity
| Type | What it checks |
|---|---|
| Standard email address format | |
| Phone | Phone number (digits, spaces, dashes, parentheses) |
| SSN | US Social Security Number, 9 digits, formatted or unformatted |
| ZIP | US ZIP code, 5 digits or ZIP+4 |
Dates
| Type | Format enforced |
|---|---|
| Date | Any recognizable date |
| Date MM/DD/YYYY | e.g. 03/15/2026 |
| Date DD/MM/YYYY | e.g. 15/03/2026 |
| Date YYYY-MM-DD | e.g. 2026-03-15 |
Numbers
| Type | What it checks |
|---|---|
| Number | Any numeric value |
| Integer | Whole numbers only |
| Decimal | Numeric value rounded to 2 decimal places |
| Currency | Monetary amount with up to two decimal places |
| Percentage | Numeric percentage |
| Positive Only | Positive numbers only (no negatives or zero) |
How to Apply Validation
- Select a text tag on the document.
- In the properties panel on the right, open the Validation dropdown.
- Choose the type that matches what you need.
- Save or send the agreement.
Recipients see an inline error message if they enter something in the wrong format.
Validation checks format only, it doesn't verify whether the data is accurate or belongs to a real person. For example, SSN validation confirms the right number of digits in the right pattern, but doesn't check if the number is valid.
Custom Validation
If none of the built-in types match your needs, you can set a custom format using a regular expression pattern. Select Custom (Regex) and enter your pattern along with the error message recipients should see if their input doesn't match.
This is an advanced option, if you're not familiar with regular expressions, ask someone on your IT team to help define the pattern.
Related Articles
- Tag Types: which tag types support validation
- Tag Properties: other tag configuration options