A computing system for specifying one or more validation rules for validating data included in one or more fields of each element of a plurality of elements of a dataset, the computing system including: a user interface module configured to render a plurality of cells arranged in a two-dimensional grid having a first axis and a second axis , the two-dimensional grid including one or more subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the first axis of the two-dimensional grid , each subset of the one or more subsets associated with a respective field of an element of the plurality of elements of the dataset, and multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the second axis of the two-dimensional grid , each of one or more of the multiple subsets including a plurality of cells associated with a same validation rule ; and a processing module configured to apply validation rules to at least one element of the dataset based on user input received from at least some of the cells; wherein at least some cells, associated with a field and a validation rule, each include an input element for receiving input determining whether or not the associated validation rule is applied to the associated field, and an indicator for indicating feedback associated with a validation result based on applying the associated validation rule to data included in the associated field of the element. a user interface module configured to render a plurality of cells arranged in a two-dimensional grid having a first axis and a second axis , the two-dimensional grid including one or more subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the first axis of the two-dimensional grid , each subset of the one or more subsets associated with a respective field of an element of the plurality of elements of the dataset, and multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the second axis of the two-dimensional grid , each of one or more of the multiple subsets including a plurality of cells associated with a same validation rule ; and one or more subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the first axis of the two-dimensional grid , each subset of the one or more subsets associated with a respective field of an element of the plurality of elements of the dataset, and multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the second axis of the two-dimensional grid , each of one or more of the multiple subsets including a plurality of cells associated with a same validation rule ; and a processing module configured to apply validation rules to at least one element of the dataset based on user input received from at least some of the cells; wherein at least some cells, associated with a field and a validation rule, each include an input element for receiving input determining whether or not the associated validation rule is applied to the associated field, and an indicator for indicating feedback associated with a validation result based on applying the associated validation rule to data included in the associated field of the element. an input element for receiving input determining whether or not the associated validation rule is applied to the associated field, and an indicator for indicating feedback associated with a validation result based on applying the associated validation rule to data included in the associated field of the element. <EOS>