When data format is being validated, what is being specifically checked?

When validating data format, the specific focus is on ensuring that the data adheres to a predefined structure or format. This includes checking that the data is in the expected form, such as a number, date, email address, or another specified type. For example, an email address should contain an "@" symbol, and a date should conform to a particular format (like DD/MM/YYYY).

While other aspects of data validation, such as value range, presence, and length, are important, they pertain to different dimensions of data integrity. Range checks determine if the values fall within acceptable limits, presence checks confirm whether data is entered at all, and length checks ensure that data does not exceed or fall short of required character limits. Validation of the data format specifically zeroes in on whether the data is properly structured and formatted as intended.