Start with the right question.

Before choosing a validator, identify the action your product needs to support. A formatting rule, a record comparison, and an identity-verification process answer different questions. These guides establish a shared vocabulary so engineering, product, and support can explain the same result without making different claims.

Begin with the validation-versus-verification guide to define the observation. Then use the onboarding guide to decide when to ask for information and how to handle unresolved states. Read them together when reviewing an existing journey: a clear backend contract is only useful if the interface preserves its meaning.

A practical review output is a small decision table: purpose, required evidence, possible outcomes, next action, and the person responsible for the policy. Avoid turning an attractive green badge into a substitute for that work.