Accurate and clean phone number data is crucial for ecommerce businesses to run successful marketing campaigns, deliver SMS notifications, and provide excellent customer service. Invalid or poorly formatted phone numbers can lead to wasted resources, message failures, and compliance risks.
This guide covers how to set up phone number data validation rules that help maintain data quality and improve communication efficiency.
Why Phone Number Validation Is Important
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Improves deliverability: Ensures SMS and calls reach valid numbers.
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Reduces costs: Avoid sending special database messages to invalid or disconnected numbers.
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Enhances customer experience: Minimizes errors during sign-up or checkout.
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Ensures compliance: Validates numbers according to regional and legal standards.
Key Elements of Phone Number Validation Rules
1. Format Validation
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Standardize formats: Use international E.164 format (
+country code + number). -
Reject invalid characters: Allow only digits and optional leading plus sign.
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Check length: Validate that the unlock business growth: generate more leads number length fits expected ranges per country.
2. Country Code Verification
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Confirm the presence of a valid country code.
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Ensure the country code whatsapp filter matches your targeted market or user input.
3. Number Pattern Checks
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Validate number prefixes for mobile vs. landline differentiation if needed.
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Use regex (regular expressions) tailored for country-specific formats.
4. Duplicate Detection
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Prevent entry of duplicate phone numbers to maintain list integrity.
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Cross-check with existing database records during data entry.
5. Real-Time Validation
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Validate numbers during input via forms to give immediate feedback.
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Use validation libraries or APIs for instant checks.
Tools and Techniques for Phone Number Validation
Libraries
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Google’s libphonenumber: Robust open-source library supporting parsing, formatting, and validation for 200+ countries.
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libphonenumber-js: Lightweight JavaScript library for web applications.
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PhoneNumberKit: For iOS applications.
APIs
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Twilio Lookup: Provides carrier, format, and validity information.
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NumVerify: Validates phone numbers with detailed info on line type and location.
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Nexmo Number Insight: Offers number status and validity checks.