To ensure validation doesn’t prevent legitimate user input, implement a few strategies. First, use whitelist validation where only approved inputs are accepted, reducing the chance of blocking valid entries. Second, provide clear and specific error messages to guide users in correcting their input. Third, allow for flexibility in data entry formats; for example, phone numbers can be entered with or without dashes. Fourth, consider using real-time validation so that users receive immediate feedback on their input. Lastly, always test your validation methods thoroughly with various types of legitimate and illegitimate inputs to ensure they work as intended.
