The answer
Validate on step change (when the user tries to proceed). This is less intrusive. Optionally, show real-time validation (green checkmark for valid fields) but do not block until the user tries to move to the next step.
Tab Form Validation and State Management
Should you validate on every input or only on step change?
More FAQs in Tab Form Validation and State Management
Use a single object for all form data: const formData = { name: '', email: '', address: '' }. Update on every input change. The object persists across steps because it is in the outer scope, not re-created on each render.
Check required fields and format. For each field in the current step: if required and empty, show error. If email, check regex. If invalid, prevent navigation. Return true only if all fields pass.
Before jumping to step N, validate all steps from 0 to N-1. If any is invalid, jump to the first invalid step and show the error. This ensures the user cannot skip to a later step without filling in required data.
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