What are the best practices for input validation in Go?

What are the best practices for input validation in Go?

The best practices for input validation in Go include using the built-in regexp package for pattern matching, validating user input against expected formats, and ensuring that you handle errors gracefully.

Can you give me an example of using the regexp package for validation?

Sure! You can use regexp.MustCompile to create a regex pattern and then use the MatchString method to validate input. For example:

import "regexp"

func isValidEmail(email string) bool {
    re := regexp.MustCompile(`^[a-zA-Z0-9._%+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,}$`)
    return re.MatchString(email)
}

What should I do if the input is invalid?

If the input is invalid, you should return an appropriate error message to the user, log the error for debugging, and possibly prompt the user to re-enter the input.

Are there any libraries that can help with input validation?

Yes, libraries like go-playground/validator provide a powerful way to validate struct fields with tags, making it easier to enforce validation rules.