Data.array
luastra/dataData.array(item: Schema, optionsValue: ArrayOptions?): Schema
Builds a dense-array schema whose every element must satisfy the supplied item schema, with optional array-length bounds. Validation records the failing index so callers can identify malformed members.
Before you use it
Add luastra/data to this module's dependencies in luastra.json, then import it with require("luastra/data"). No host capability is required. Define schemas outside render when they are reused.
How it fits
This pure constructor returns an immutable schema synchronously; Data.decode performs the actual validation later.
When to use it
Use Data.array for ordered JSON-style collections with contiguous indexes and one element contract. Use Data.object for named fields or a custom migration when the input is a sparse keyed map.
Parameters
| Parameter | Type / values | Description |
|---|---|---|
| item | Schema | Schema applied independently to every dense array element. |
| optionsValue | ArrayOptions? | Optional minimum and maximum item counts. |
| optionsValue.minItems | integer (0..256)? | Minimum admitted item count; defaults to 0. |
| optionsValue.maxItems | integer (0..256)? | Maximum admitted item count; defaults to 256. |
Returns
Schema — an immutable runtime schema that can be composed or passed to Data.decode.
What happens next
An immutable schema ready to compose or pass to Data.decode.
Failures and fixes
Ordinary invalid input is a Data.decode failure, not an exception. Invalid schema options are programmer errors and fail immediately. String bounds count UTF-8 bytes; Data.string has no pattern option in this alpha.
Availability
Public-source alpha API in 0.5.0-alpha; host-independent and synchronous.
Focused example
local Data = require("luastra/data")
local tags = Data.array(Data.string { maxBytes = 40 }, { maxItems = 12 })