Model Metadata and Validation Localization using Conventions

By default, ASP.NET MVC leverages Data Annotations to provide validation. The approach is easy to get started with and allows the validation applied on the server to “float” to the client without any extra work.

However, once you get localization involved, using Data Annotations can really clutter your models. For example, the following is a simple model class with two properties.

public class Character {
  public string FirstName { get; set; }
  public string LastName { get; set; }
}

Nothing to write home about, but it is nice, clean, and simple.  To make it more useful, I’ll add validation and format how the properties are displayed.

public class Character {
  [Display(Name="First Name")]
  [Required]
  [StringLength(50)]]
  public string FirstName { get; set; }
  
  [Display(Name="Last Name")]
  [Required]
  [StringLength(50)]]
  public string LastName { get; set; }
}