What is Data Validation?
The process of verifying that data is accurate, complete, and in the correct format.
Definition
Data validation checks whether data meets quality standards before it enters or stays in your system. Email validation confirms addresses are deliverable (syntax check, domain check, mailbox verification). Phone validation verifies numbers are active and reachable. Address validation standardizes and verifies physical addresses against postal databases. Field-level validation ensures data conforms to expected formats (e.g., phone numbers have the right number of digits).
Why It Matters
Sending emails to invalid addresses damages your sender reputation. Calling dead phone numbers wastes rep time. Bad addresses cause returned mail and failed deliveries. Validation at the point of entry prevents garbage data from getting into your system in the first place.
Example
You integrate an email validation API into your web forms. When a visitor types 'john@gmial.com', the system catches the typo in real-time and suggests 'john@gmail.com' before the lead enters your CRM.