# Annotation Type Validate

@Retention(CLASS) @Target(FIELD) public @interface Validate

Escape hatch for the validation annotation set: points the component at a hand-written `com.codename1.ui.validation.Constraint` implementation. The referenced class must be public and expose a public no-argument constructor; the generated binder calls `new YourConstraint()` at bind time and registers it against the `Validator` exposed via `Binding#getValidator()`.

    public final class PhoneConstraint implements Constraint {
        public boolean isValid(Object value) { ... }
        public String getDefaultFailMessage() { return "Bad phone number"; }
    }

    @Bind(name="phoneField") @Validate(PhoneConstraint.class)
    private String phone;

Stacks with the canned annotations -- `@Required @Validate(MyExtra.class)` composes them under a single `GroupConstraint` (first failure wins). Use it when the built-ins aren't enough; reach for the canned annotations first.

- ## Required Element Summary

  Required Elements
  Modifier and Type
  Required Element
  Description
  `java.lang.Class<?>`
  `value`
  The `Constraint` implementation to instantiate.

- ## Element Details

  - ### value

    java.lang.Class<?> value
    The `Constraint` implementation to instantiate. Must have a public no-argument constructor.