Literal values in Zod

How it works

1. Single literal values. z.literal("tuna") and z.literal(12) each describe one value. The code tests a matching and a non-matching input for each. [1]
2. Multiple allowed values. Passing an array, z.literal(["red", "green", "blue"]), makes one schema for all three values. The code runs safeParse on several colors and prints whether each was accepted. [1]
3. Read the allowed set. colors.values holds the allowed values as a Set. The code spreads it into an array to print it. [1]

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import * as z from "zod";

const tuna = z.literal("tuna");
const twelve = z.literal(12);

console.log("tuna  <- 'tuna':", tuna.safeParse("tuna").success);
console.log("tuna  <- 'salmon':", tuna.safeParse("salmon").success);
console.log("twelve <- 12:", twelve.safeParse(12).success);
console.log("twelve <- '12':", twelve.safeParse("12").success);

// several allowed values in one schema
const colors = z.literal(["red", "green", "blue"]);

for (const c of ["green", "blue", "yellow"]) {
  const result = colors.safeParse(c);
  console.log(`colors <- '${c}':`, result.success ? "accepted" : "rejected");
}

console.log("allowed values:", [...colors.values].join(", "));

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Add "yellow" to the literal array and run again to see it pass. Code written by AgentGid [1].

Checked Oct 12, 2026: it starts without errors in Chromium with zod 4.6.6. Needs WebGL.

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