A PR validator is an automated check that enforces configured rules for pull-request metadata and organization. It handles repetitive consistency checks so reviewers can focus on the code and its most important decisions. Unlike PR gate checks, which focus on automated quality checks for code changes, validators focus on the pull request itself. section 5.4.2 section 5.5
Common validator applications include:
- Enforce PR title formats such as Conventional Commits, requiring a type prefix and succinct description. section 5.4.2
- Apply labels according to configured rules, including PR age, description state, and other team-defined conditions. section 5.4.2
- Add size labels based on changed lines and files, using defaults or thresholds configured for the team. section 5.4.2
- Track review performance and automate reminders or escalations for events such as unreviewed pull requests. section 5.5
A practical validation setup
A team installs the semantic-pull-request GitHub Action, requires a Conventional Commit-style title, uses a label manager to flag empty descriptions or aging PRs, and adds size labels such as lines/S and files/S. Authors still provide context and justification; automation reinforces the agreed format rather than replacing human judgment. section 5.4.2 section 8.2
