Tables

Tables can be validated for structure, headers, and cell content using matchers.

Basic Table Matching

Tables match literally by default - headers and all rows must match exactly:

schema.mds

| Name | Age |
| :--- | :-- |
| Alice | 25 |
| Bob | 30 |

input.md

| Name | Age |
| :--- | :-- |
| Alice | 25 |
| Bob | 30 |

schema.mds

| Name | Age |
| :--- | :-- |
| Alice | 25 |

input.md

| Name | Age |
| :--- | :-- |
| Bob | 30 |

Table Headers

Headers can use matchers to validate column names:

schema.mds

| buzz `col:/\w+/` bar | `col:/\w+/` |
| :--- | :-- |
| data | more |

input.md

| buzz Name bar | Age |
| :--- | :-- |
| data | more |

Output:

{"col":["Name","Age"]}

Cell Content Validation

Individual cells can contain matchers:

schema.mds

| Name | Phone |
| :--- | :---- |
| `name:/\w+/` | `phone:/\d{3}-\d{4}/` |

input.md

| Name | Phone |
| :--- | :---- |
| Alice | 555-1234 |

Output:

{"name":"Alice","phone":"555-1234"}

Repeated Rows

Use {min,max} syntax on row patterns to match multiple rows:

schema.mds

| Item | Price |
| :--- | :---- |
| `item:/\w+/` | `price:/\d+/` |{1,3}

input.md

| Item | Price |
| :--- | :---- |
| Apple | 2 |
| Banana | 3 |

Output:

{"item":["Apple","Banana"],"price":["2","3"]}

schema.mds

| Type | Number |
| :--- | :----- |
| `type:/\w+/` | `number:/\d+/` |{2,}

input.md

| Type | Number |
| :--- | :----- |
| Backup | 212 |
| Misc | 123 |

Output:

{"type":["Backup","Misc"],"number":["212","123"]}

schema.mds

| Item | Price |
| :--- | :---- |
| `item:/\w+/` | `price:/\d+/` |{1,3}

input.md

| Item | Price |
| :--- | :---- |
| Apple | 2 |
| Banana | 3 |
| Cherry | 4 |
| Date | 5 |

Mixing Literal and Repeated Rows

You can combine literal rows with repeated rows in the same table:

schema.mds

| Item | Price |
| :--- | :---- |
| Header | 10 |
| `item:/\w+/` | `price:/\d+/` |{1,3}
| Footer | 99 |

input.md

| Item | Price |
| :--- | :---- |
| Header | 10 |
| Apple | 5 |
| Banana | 3 |
| Footer | 99 |

Output:

{"item":["Apple","Banana"],"price":["5","3"]}

The validator will:

1. Match the literal “Header” row
2. Match 1-3 repeating rows with the pattern
3. Match the literal “Footer” row

Notes

• Repeated rows return arrays for matched values
• Headers and separator rows are required in both schema and input
• Column count must match between schema and input
• Repeated row patterns must appear at the end of a row (after all cells)