# Class GenericTypeValidator

java.lang.Object
org.apache.commons.validator.GenericTypeValidator

All Implemented Interfaces:
  `Serializable`

public class GenericTypeValidator extends Object implements Serializable
This class contains basic methods for performing validations that return the correctly typed class based on the validation performed.

See Also:
  - Serialized Form

- ## Constructor Summary

  Constructors
  Constructor
  Description
  `GenericTypeValidator()`
  Deprecated.
  Will be private in the next major version.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `static Byte`
  `formatByte(String value)`
  Checks if the value can safely be converted to a byte primitive.
  `static Byte`
  `formatByte(String value, Locale locale)`
  Checks if the value can safely be converted to a byte primitive.
  `static Long`
  `formatCreditCard(String value)`
  Checks if the field is a valid credit card number.
  `static Date`
  `formatDate(String value, String datePattern, boolean strict)`
  Checks if the field is a valid date.
  `static Date`
  `formatDate(String value, Locale locale)`
  Checks if the field is a valid date.
  `static Double`
  `formatDouble(String value)`
  Checks if the value can safely be converted to a double primitive.
  `static Double`
  `formatDouble(String value, Locale locale)`
  Checks if the value can safely be converted to a double primitive.
  `static Float`
  `formatFloat(String value)`
  Checks if the value can safely be converted to a float primitive.
  `static Float`
  `formatFloat(String value, Locale locale)`
  Checks if the value can safely be converted to a float primitive.
  `static Integer`
  `formatInt(String value)`
  Checks if the value can safely be converted to an int primitive.
  `static Integer`
  `formatInt(String value, Locale locale)`
  Checks if the value can safely be converted to an int primitive.
  `static Long`
  `formatLong(String value)`
  Checks if the value can safely be converted to a long primitive.
  `static Long`
  `formatLong(String value, Locale locale)`
  Checks if the value can safely be converted to a long primitive.
  `static Short`
  `formatShort(String value)`
  Checks if the value can safely be converted to a short primitive.
  `static Short`
  `formatShort(String value, Locale locale)`
  Checks if the value can safely be converted to a short primitive.

  ### Methods inherited from class Object

  `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

- ## Constructor Details

  - ### GenericTypeValidator

    @Deprecated public GenericTypeValidator()
    Deprecated.
    Will be private in the next major version.
    Constructs a new instance.

- ## Method Details

  - ### formatByte

    public static Byte formatByte(String value)
    Checks if the value can safely be converted to a byte primitive.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
    Returns:
      The converted Byte value.

  - ### formatByte

    public static Byte formatByte(String value, Locale locale)
    Checks if the value can safely be converted to a byte primitive.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `locale` - The locale to use to parse the number (system default if null)
    Returns:
      The converted Byte value.

  - ### formatCreditCard

    public static Long formatCreditCard(String value)
    Checks if the field is a valid credit card number.

    Reference Sean M. Burke's script.

    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
    Returns:
      The converted Credit Card number.

  - ### formatDate

    public static Date formatDate(String value, Locale locale)
    Checks if the field is a valid date.

    The `Locale` is used with `DateFormat`. The `DateFormat.setLenient(boolean)` method is set to `false` for all.

    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `locale` - The Locale to use to parse the date (system default if null)
    Returns:
      The converted Date value.

  - ### formatDate

    public static Date formatDate(String value, String datePattern, boolean strict)
    Checks if the field is a valid date.

    The pattern is used with `SimpleDateFormat`. If strict is true, then the length will be checked so '2/12/1999' will not pass validation with the format 'MM/dd/yyyy' because the month isn't two digits. The `DateFormat.setLenient(boolean)` method is set to `false` for all.

    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `datePattern` - The pattern passed to `SimpleDateFormat`.
      `strict` - Whether or not to have an exact match of the datePattern.
    Returns:
      The converted Date value.

  - ### formatDouble

    public static Double formatDouble(String value)
    Checks if the value can safely be converted to a double primitive.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
    Returns:
      The converted Double value.

  - ### formatDouble

    public static Double formatDouble(String value, Locale locale)
    Checks if the value can safely be converted to a double primitive.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `locale` - The locale to use to parse the number (system default if null)
    Returns:
      The converted Double value.

  - ### formatFloat

    public static Float formatFloat(String value)
    Checks if the value can safely be converted to a float primitive.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
    Returns:
      The converted Float value.

  - ### formatFloat

    public static Float formatFloat(String value, Locale locale)
    Checks if the value can safely be converted to a float primitive.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `locale` - The locale to use to parse the number (system default if null)
    Returns:
      The converted Float value.

  - ### formatInt

    public static Integer formatInt(String value)
    Checks if the value can safely be converted to an int primitive.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
    Returns:
      The converted Integer value.

  - ### formatInt

    public static Integer formatInt(String value, Locale locale)
    Checks if the value can safely be converted to an int primitive.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `locale` - The locale to use to parse the number (system default if null)
    Returns:
      The converted Integer value.

  - ### formatLong

    public static Long formatLong(String value)
    Checks if the value can safely be converted to a long primitive.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
    Returns:
      The converted Long value.

  - ### formatLong

    public static Long formatLong(String value, Locale locale)
    Checks if the value can safely be converted to a long primitive.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `locale` - The locale to use to parse the number (system default if null)
    Returns:
      The converted Long value.

  - ### formatShort

    public static Short formatShort(String value)
    Checks if the value can safely be converted to a short primitive.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
    Returns:
      The converted Short value.

  - ### formatShort

    public static Short formatShort(String value, Locale locale)
    Checks if the value can safely be converted to a short primitive.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `locale` - The locale to use to parse the number (system default if null)
    Returns:
      The converted Short value.