At least one XML document to be validated is parsed, and XML data in the at least one XML document is represented as data objects in at least one data object model in a memory. At least one rule document is parsed and a rule object model that includes rule objects is created in the memory. At least part of the data objects are extracted from the at least one data object model and at least part of rule objects are extracted from the rule object model. Partial validation is performed in a corresponding execution context that validates the extracted at least part of the data objects based upon the extracted at least part of the rule objects.