Review star ratings validation rules for scale values, distribution accuracy, and rating consistency

Best Rating

BestRatingMustBePresent

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that bestRating is present

BestRatingNotMatchedInAggregateRatingBestRating

Preconditions
Aggregate Ratings resource exists for same location

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that bestRating matches bestRating in the Aggregate Rating resource

RatingValueExceedsBestRating

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that ratingValue is less than or equal to the review's bestRating

Category

CategoryMustBeDistinct

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that each category in a starRatings list is distinct

CategoryMustBePresent

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that 'category' is present

CategoryMustBeValid

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that category value is OVERALL

CategoryMustNotBeEmpty

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that category is not an empty string

Example Validation Report

{
  "code": "VALIDATION__CategoryMustNotBeEmpty",
  "severity": "VIOLATION",
  "message": "'{{field}}' must not be empty string",
  "context": {
    "field": "category"
  },
  "details": {
    "createdDate": "2026-09-01T21:00:59.865Z",
    "submitted": [],
    "compared": [],
    "expected": []
  }
}

Rating Value

RatingValueMustBePresent

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that 'ratingValue' is present

RatingValueNotWithinAggregateRatingRange

Preconditions
Aggregate Ratings resource exists for same location

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that ratingValue is equal to or lays between the range that is derived from worstRating and bestRating in the Aggregate Rating resource

Star Ratings

StarRatingsListMustNotIncludeNulls

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that a list does not include null			Link

StarRatingsMustNotBeEmptyArray

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that starRatings is not an empty array

Example Validation Report

{
  "code": "VALIDATION__StarRatingsMustNotBeEmptyArray",
  "message": "'{{field}}' must be omitted or contain at least one element; empty arrays are not allowed.",
  "severity": "VIOLATION",
  "context": {
    "field": "starRatings"
  },
  "details": {
    "compared": [],
    "expected": [],
    "submitted": [
      {
        "field": "$.reviewDetails.starRatings",
        "value": "[]"
      }
    ],
    "createdDate": "2026-03-03T13:58:43.946Z"
  }
}

Worst Rating

RatingValueIsLessThanWorstRating

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that ratingValue is not less than the review's worstRating

WorstRatingIsPresent

Preconditions
type is CRITIC or USER

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that worstRating is not present. (Deference is given to Aggregate Rating's worstRating)

WorstRatingMustBeValid

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that worstRating is valid. (Is 0 or 1. Not a non-zero decimal or string data type)

Example Validation Report

{
  "code": "VALIDATION__WorstRatingMustBeValid",
  "severity": "VIOLATION",
  "message": "'{{category}}' value is invalid",
  "context": {
    "category": 0.9
  },
  "details": {
    "createdDate": "2026-09-01T21:00:59.865Z",
    "submitted": [
      {
        "field": "$.reviewDetails.review.starRatings[0].worstRating",
        "value": 0.9
      }
    ],
    "compared": [],
    "expected": []
  }
}

Example Validation Report

{
  "code": "VALIDATION__WorstRatingMustBeValid",
  "severity": "VIOLATION",
  "message": "'worstRating' value '{{value}}' is not valid",
  "context": {
    "value": "0"
  },
  "details": {
    "createdDate": "2026-09-01T21:00:59.865Z",
    "submitted": [
      {
        "field": "$.reviewDetails.review.starRatings[0].worstRating",
        "value": "0"
      }
    ],
    "compared": [],
    "expected": []
  }
}

Example Validation Report

{
  "code": "VALIDATION__WorstRatingMustBeValid",
  "severity": "VIOLATION",
  "message": "'worstRating' value '{{value}}' is not valid",
  "context": {
    "value": 2
  },
  "details": {
    "createdDate": "2026-09-01T21:00:59.865Z",
    "submitted": [
      {
        "field": "$.reviewDetails.review.starRatings[0].worstRating",
        "value": 2
      }
    ],
    "compared": [],
    "expected": []
  }
}

WorstRatingNotMatchedInAggregateRatingWorstRating

Preconditions
Aggregate rating is associated with the same location
Review has worstRating

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that the review's worstRating matches the aggregate rating's worstRating

WorstRatingNotPresent

Preconditions
type is CRITIC_SUMMARY

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that worstRating is present (When not provided, 0 is assumed)