I wanted a robust javascript validation library that was simple to implement and didn't require me do any extra work other than creating the form. My favourite idea for a method of doing this is to utilise the field elements' class attribute to indicate what sort of field it is and hence any validation requirements. There are a few javascript libraries that implement that idea like wForms, but, since I'm currently hell-bent on re-writing all my javascript using Prototype, I thought I'd see how difficult or easy it would be to roll my own. Turns out that this is just the sort of thing that is easy with Prototype. [Updated!] : new version 1.5.3!