Overview

Validation rules make sure people enter information in the format you need. The options you see depend on the field type. This article lists what's available for each type and explains exactly how Mask works.

Validation Options by Field Type

These apply in Forms, Applications, Events, Appointments, and other places that use the form builder.

Field type	Validation options
Text	Required, Required If, Letter Only, Letter + Spaces Only, Letter + Numbers Only, Letter + Dash Only, Numeric Only, SSN, Email, URL, Minimum Length, Maximum Length, Person Name, Mask
Text Area	Everything Text has, plus Minimum Words and Maximum Words. Mask does not apply to Text Area fields.
Number	Same as Text, but Minimum/Maximum Length are called Minimum/Maximum Value (they check the number, not the digit count). Mask does not apply to Number fields.
Date / Date-Time	Required, Required If, After Date, Before Date
Boolean (Yes/No checkbox)	Required, Required If, Is Checked
Email	Required, Required If. The email format check is built in and always on.
All other types (Dropdown, Radio, Checkboxes, Phone, File Upload, etc.)	Required, Required If

📌 Note: Surveys use a separate builder. Survey questions offer only Required and Max. Mask isn't available in Surveys.

How Mask Works

A mask is a pattern. Each symbol in the pattern stands for one character the person types. If a character doesn't fit, it isn't accepted. Masks work on Text fields only.

Supported Symbols

Symbol	Accepts	Example
`0`	One digit, required	`000` → 123
`9`	One digit, required (older version of `0`; works the same)	`999` → 123
`A`	One letter, A–Z or a–z	`AA` → AB
`S`	One letter or digit	`SS` → A1
`*`	Repeats the symbol right before it	`0*` → any number of digits

Characters You Can Use As-Is

These characters appear in the mask exactly as written: - / ( ) . : , + @ [ ] " ' and space.

What's Not Supported

Fixed letters or words. Letters are read as symbols or not at all, so a mask like W000 or S*@school.edu won't work.
Other symbols from outside documentation, such as U, L, X, d, M, H, h, m, s. A field using these won't accept any typing.
Accented letters with A or S (é, ñ, ü).

📌 Note: Online documentation for the mask library (ngx-mask) uses different symbol meanings. Use this article, not that documentation.

Save Value as Masked Format

Under the mask setting there's a toggle: Save value as masked format.

Toggle	Person types	Saved as
Off (default)	AB-1234	AB1234
On	AB-1234	AB-1234

Turn it on when downstream systems (your SIS, exports, segments) expect the punctuation.

Things to Know Before You Use a Mask

Masks control typing, not meaning. 00/00/0000 accepts 13/45/2026. For real dates, use a Date field.
Masks are checked in the browser only. Data that arrives by import, API, or integration doesn't go through the mask.
Don't mask SSN or phone fields. They already have built-in validation, and a mask can conflict with it.
Masks can't restrict email domains. No current setting limits an email answer to one domain (e.g., @school.edu). Masks like S*@AAAA.AAA don't enforce a domain and can change the address someone types. Don't use masks on email answers.
[VERIFY BEFORE PUBLISHING] If someone types only part of the pattern (5 of 8 digits), the field shows as invalid and the form won't submit.

Common Examples

Need	Mask	Accepts
8-digit student ID	`00000000`	12345678
ID with letters and numbers	`AA-0000`	AB-1234
Course code	`AAA 000`	ENG 101
Any length, letters/digits only	`S*`	Abc123

Field Validation by Field Type + Mask Reference