Expression Builder Validations Reference
Liferay 7.4 U67+/GA67+
With custom Objects, you can create field validations using Liferay’s Expression Builder. This tool provides an integrated editor for quickly defining complex validation rules using predefined fields, operators, and functions. You can browse available elements in the conditions side panel.
Expression Builder validations can only be used with text, numeric, date, and Boolean field types.
Text Fields
Liferay provides the following operators and functions for Text and Long Text fields. You can use any of these fields as arguments. With some elements, you can also add string values to compare with the field’s value (e.g., "foo", "[A-Za-z]{1,50}").
Concat
Combines multiple strings or text fields and return a single string that can be used with other validation functions.
concat([textField], "[string]")
Condition (with Text)
Checks if user input meets one or more conditions and returns a Boolean value. This function works like if statements. Each expression includes at least one condition (e.g., textFieldName == "foo") and returns true or false. You can add multiple conditions to the same expression and determine a return value if none of the conditions are met (e.g., textFieldName == "foo", textFieldName == "bar", true, false).
condition([condition], [return-value])
Contains (with Text)
Checks if a text field contains a specific string value and returns a Boolean. If the field does not contain the value, it returns false.
contains([textField], "[string]")
Does Not Contain (with Text)
Checks if a text field does not contain a specific string value and returns a Boolean. If the field does contain the value, it returns false.
NOT(contains([textField], "[string]"))
Is a URL
Checks if a text field is a URL and returns a Boolean. If the field does not match a URL pattern, it returns false. To return true, entries must use standard URL elements (e.g., http, ://, .com)
isURL([textField])
Is an Email
Checks if a text field is an email and returns a Boolean. If the field does not match a specific email or email pattern, it returns false. To return true, entries must use standard email elements (e.g., @gmail, .com)
isEmailAddress([textField])
Is Empty
Checks if a text field is empty and returns a Boolean. If the field is not empty, it returns false.
isEmpty([textField])
Is Equal To (with Text)
Checks if a text field is equal to a specific string value and returns a Boolean. If they are not equal, it returns false.
[textField] == "[string]"
Is Not Equal To (with Text)
Checks if a text field is different from a specific string value and returns a Boolean. If they are equal, it returns false.
[textField] != "[string]"
Matches
Checks if a text field matches a specific string value or RegEx expression and returns a Boolean. If the field does not match the value, it returns false.
match([textField], "[string]")
match([textField], "[regex]")
Old Value (with Text)
Retrieves the prior value for the specified text field. You can use the value with other functions and operators.
oldValue([textFieldName])
Numeric Fields
Liferay provides the following operators and functions for Integer, Long Integer, Decimal, and Precision Decimal fields. You can use any of these fields as arguments. With some elements, you can also add numeric values to compare with the field’s value (e.g., 123, 3.1415).
Condition (with Numeric)
Checks if user input meets one or more conditions and returns a Boolean value. This function works like if statements. Each expression includes at least one condition (e.g., numericFieldName == 10) and returns true or false. You can add multiple conditions to the same expression and determine a return value if none of the conditions are met (e.g., numericFieldName == 10, numericFieldName != 100, true, false).
condition([condition], [return-value])
Contains (with Numeric)
Checks if a number field contains a specific numeric value and returns a Boolean. If the field does not contain the value, it returns false.
contains([numericField], [number])
Does not Contain (with Numeric)
Checks if a number field contains a specific numeric value and returns a Boolean. If the field does contain the value, it returns false.
NOT(contains([numericField], [number]))
Is Decimal
Checks if a number field is a decimal and returns a Boolean. If the field is not a decimal, it returns false.
isDecimal([numericField])
Is Integer
Checks if a number field is an integer and returns a Boolean. If the field is not an integer, it returns false.
isInteger([numericField])
Is Equal To (with Numeric)
Checks if a number field is equal to a specific numeric value and returns a Boolean. If they are not equal, it returns false.
[numericField] == [number]
Is Not Equal To (with Numeric)
Checks if a number field is different from a specific numeric value and returns a Boolean. If they are equal, it returns false.
[numericField] != [number]
Is Greater Than
Checks if a number field is greater than a specific numeric value and returns a Boolean. If the field is not greater, it returns false.
[numericField] > [number]
Is Greater Than or Equal To
Checks if a number field is greater than or equal to a specific numeric value and returns a Boolean. If the field is not equal or greater, it returns false.
[numericField] >= [number]
Is Less Than
Checks if a number field is less than a specific numeric value and returns a Boolean. If the field is not less, it returns false.
[numericField] < [number]
Is Less Than Or Equal To
Checks if a number field is less than or equal to a specific numeric value and returns a Boolean. If the field is not equal or less, it returns false.
[numericField] <= [number]
Old Value (with Numeric)
Retrieves the prior value for the specified numeric field. You can use the value with other functions and operators.
oldValue([numericField])
Sum
Adds multiple numeric fields together and returns a single number that can be used with other validation functions.
sum([numericField], [numericField])
Date Fields
Liferay provides the following operators and functions for Date fields. You can use any Date field as an argument or parameter. Additionally, you can enter fixed date values ("yyyy-MM-dd") for comparing with your date field (e.g., 2020-03-19).
Compare Dates
Checks if a date field’s value is the same as the parameter. If the field does not match the parameter, it returns false.
compareDates([dateField], [parameter])
Condition (with Date)
Checks if user input meets one or more conditions and returns a Boolean value. This function works like if statements. Each expression includes at least one condition (e.g., dateFieldName == 2020-01-01) and returns true or false. You can add multiple conditions to the same expression and determine a return value if none of the conditions are met (e.g., dateFieldName == 2020-01-01, dateFieldName != 2022-01-01, true, false).
condition([condition], [return-value])
Future Dates
Checks if a date field’s value is equal to or after a set parameter. If it is not, the function returns false.
futureDates([dateField], [parameter])
For example,
futureDates(endDate, startDate)
futureDates(endDate, "2024-01-01")
The first example checks whether the endDate is equal to or after the startDate value. The second example checks whether the endDate value is equal to or after 2024-01-01.
Old Value (with Date)
Retrieves the prior value for the specified date field. You can use the value with other functions and operators.
oldValue([dateField])
Past Dates
Checks if a date field’s value is equal to or before a set parameter. If it is not, the function returns false.
pastDates([dateField], [parameter])
For example,
pastDates(startDate, endDate)
pastDates(startDate, "2024-01-01")
The first example checks whether the startDate is equal to or before the endDate value. The second checks whether the startDate value is equal to or before 2024-01-01.
Range
Checks whether date field values begin with a past date and end with a future date. If the dates are not within the range, it returns false.
futureDates([dateField], [parameter])
AND
pastDates([dateField], [parameter])
For example,
futureDates(endDate, startDate)
AND
pastDates(startDate, endDate)
This checks whether the endDate value is equal to/after the startDate value and whether the startDate value is equal to/before the endDate value.
Math Operators
You can use any of the following math operators with numeric fields.
Plus ( + )
Adds numeric fields to create an expression.
[numericField] + [numericField]
Minus ( - )
Subtracts numeric fields from one another to create an expression.
[numericField] - [numericField]
Divided By ( / )
Divides one numeric field by another to create an expression.
[numericField] / [numericField]
Multiply ( * )
Multiplies numeric fields to create an expression.
[numericField] * [numericField]
Logical Operators
Logical operators are used with multiple elements to aggregate complex conditions from multiple elements. Currently, Expression Builder validations provide the AND and OR operators.
AND: Indicates a dependent relationship.OR: Indicates an independent relationship.
In the following example, the AND clauses are dependent on each other and must be taken together. By contrast, the OR clauses are logically separate and not co-dependent on each other.
match([phoneNumberField], "^([1-9]{2}) (?:[2-8]|9[1-9])[0-9]{3}-[0-9]{4}$")
AND match([nameField], "[A-Za-z]{1,50}")
AND match([addressField], "[A-Za-z]{1,50}")
OR [numericField] == 1
OR match([lastNameField], "[A-Za-z]{1,50}")
Validation Examples
The following validations are common examples. To use them, replace fieldName with the name of the field to validate.
Name Validation (with Text)
Restricts values to alphabetic characters and limits the number of allowed characters.
match(fieldName, "[A-Za-z]{1,50}")
Allows for numbers in last names.
match(fieldName, "[A-Za-z][0-9]{1,50}")
Password (with Text)
Checks if entries meet the following password criteria:
- At least 8 characters
- At least 5 unique characters
- At least 1 symbol
- At least 1 number
- No spaces allowed
match(fieldName, "^(?=.*[A-Za-z])(?=.*d)(?=.*[@$!%*#?&])[A-Za-zd@$!%*#?&]{8,}$")
Cell Phone Number (with Numeric)
Checks if entries match a phone number pattern. It restricts entries to numeric characters, limits the number of characters, and sets a standard phone number pattern.
match(fieldName, "^([1-9]{2}) (?:[2-8]|9[1-9])[0-9]{3}-[0-9]{4}$")
Postal Code (with Numeric)
Checks if entries match a postal code pattern. It restricts entries to numeric characters, limits the number of characters, and sets a standard postal code pattern.
match(fieldName, "^([1-9]{2}) (?:[2-8]|9[1-9])[0-9]{3}-[0-9]{4}$")
Specify Age Range (Date)
Checks if entries are between 18-65.
pastDates(fieldName, startsFrom, responseDate, years, -120, endsOn, responseDate, years, -18)
AND
futureDates(fieldName, startsFrom, responseDate, years, 0, endsOn, responseDate, years, 65)