code: protected function validate($name, $limit, $regEx = false)
      {
          $Name = ucfirst($name);
          $value = $this->_updates->$name;
          $length = explode('-', $limit);
          $min = intval($length[0]);
          $max = intval($length[1]);
  
          if (!$max and !$min) {
              $this->log->error("Invalid second parameter for the $name validation");
              return false;
          }
  
          if (!$value) {
              if (is_null($value)) {
                  $this->log->report("Missing index $name from the input");
              }
              if (strlen($value) == $min) {
                  $this->log->report("$Name is blank and optional - skipped");
                  return true;
              }
              $this->log->formError($name, "$Name is required.");
              return false;
          }
  
          // Validate the value maximum length
          if (strlen($value) > $max) {
              $this->log->formError($name, "The $Name is larger than $max characters.");
              return false;
          }
  
          // Validate the value minimum length
          if (strlen($value) < $min) {
              $this->log->formError($name, "The $Name is too short. It should at least be $min characters long");
              return false;
          }
  
          // Validate the value pattern
          if ($regEx) {
              preg_match($regEx, $value, $match);
              if (preg_match($regEx, $value, $match) === 0) {
                  $this->log->formError($name, "The $Name \"{$value}\" is not valid");
                  return false;
              }
          }
  
          /*
           * If the execution reaches this point then the field value
           * is considered to be valid
           */
          $this->log->report("The $name is Valid");
          return true;
      }
docs: Validates a field in tmp_data
  
  @param string      $name  field name
  @param string      $limit valid value length range, Ex: '0-10'
  @param bool|string $regEx regular expression to test the field against
  
  @return bool