Handling errors with ZodError in Zod

parse returns the validated value or throws a ZodError. You can catch that error and list which fields failed.

How it works

Parse valid data. Player.parse() is called with a valid object. The code prints the value it returns. [1]
Catch the thrown error. The invalid object is parsed inside try/catch. The code checks err instanceof z.ZodError before reading the error. [1]
Print each issue. The README's example shows entries in err.issues with fields such as code, path and message. The code loops over err.issues and prints those three fields for each entry. [1]

Run and edit it

It runs in your browser, in a sandboxed frame that cannot see this site; the packages load from esm.sh only after you press Run.

import * as z from "zod";

const Player = z.object({
  username: z.string(),
  xp: z.number(),
});

// valid input: parse returns the value
const ok = Player.parse({ username: "billie", xp: 100 });
console.log("parsed:", JSON.stringify(ok));

// invalid input: parse throws
try {
  Player.parse({ username: 42, xp: "100" });
  console.log("no error thrown");
} catch (err) {
  if (err instanceof z.ZodError) {
    console.log("ZodError with", err.issues.length, "issues:");
    for (const issue of err.issues) {
      console.log("  path:", issue.path.join("."));
      console.log("  code:", issue.code);
      console.log("  message:", issue.message);
    }
  } else {
    console.log("other error:", String(err));
  }
}

Ctrl/⌘ + Enter runs

Change the invalid object so only one field is wrong and watch the issue list shrink. Code written by AgentGid [1].

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

More Zod examples

String formats in Zod: email, UUID, phone, datetime String validation in Zod Type coercion in Zod Literal values in Zod

Sources

Zod README (GitHub)

Explanations written by AgentGid from the official docs; the numbers in brackets point here. The code marked "written by AgentGid" is ours and free to copy.

Building something with Zod? Ask AgentGid →