Public Class clsValidation 'validation class
    Public Function presenceCheck(ByVal validationItem As String) 'create a public method for presence checks and pass in the value of a variable
        Dim result As Boolean = True 'the result of the check
        If validationItem = "" Then 'If there is no text return false
            result = False 'check not met
        End If
        Return result 'return the result
    End Function

    Public Function lengthCheck(ByVal validationItem As String, ByVal maxLength As Integer, ByVal minLength As Integer) 'checks the string is between a certain minimum and maximum amount of characters
        Dim result As Boolean = False 'the result of the check
        If validationItem.Length <= maxLength And validationItem.Length >= minLength Then 'if the string is between the min and max amount of characters
            result = True 'check met
        End If
        Return result 'return the result
    End Function

    Public Function characterCheck(ByVal validationItem As String, ByVal bannedCharacter As String) 'Doesnt allow a certain character to be added'
        Dim result As Boolean = True 'the result of the check
        Dim counter As Integer 'the index for current character to look at
        For counter = 0 To validationItem.Length - 1 'check every character
            If validationItem(counter) = bannedCharacter Then 'if the character is banned
                result = False 'check not met
            End If
        Next
        Return result 'return the result
    End Function

End Class