fix: add some more validation

Signed-off-by: Dr. Carsten Leue <carsten.leue@de.ibm.com>

v2/either/either.go

@@ -188,6 +188,81 @@ func MonadChain[E, A, B any](fa Either[E, A], f Kleisli[E, A, B]) Either[E, B] {
 	return f(fa.r)
 }
 
+// MonadChainLeft sequences a computation on the Left (error) value, allowing error recovery or transformation.
+// If the Either is Left, applies the provided function to the error value, which returns a new Either.
+// If the Either is Right, returns the Right value unchanged with the new error type.
+//
+// This is the dual of [MonadChain] - while MonadChain operates on Right values (success),
+// MonadChainLeft operates on Left values (errors). It's useful for error recovery, error transformation,
+// or chaining alternative computations when an error occurs.
+//
+// Note: MonadChainLeft is identical to [OrElse] - both provide the same functionality for error recovery.
+//
+// The error type can be transformed from EA to EB, allowing flexible error type conversions.
+//
+// Example:
+//
+//	// Error recovery: convert specific errors to success
+//	result := either.MonadChainLeft(
+//	    either.Left[int](errors.New("not found")),
+//	    func(err error) either.Either[string, int] {
+//	        if err.Error() == "not found" {
+//	            return either.Right[string](0) // default value
+//	        }
+//	        return either.Left[int](err.Error()) // transform error
+//	    },
+//	) // Right(0)
+//
+//	// Error transformation: change error type
+//	result := either.MonadChainLeft(
+//	    either.Left[int](404),
+//	    func(code int) either.Either[string, int] {
+//	        return either.Left[int](fmt.Sprintf("Error code: %d", code))
+//	    },
+//	) // Left("Error code: 404")
+//
+//	// Right values pass through unchanged
+//	result := either.MonadChainLeft(
+//	    either.Right[error](42),
+//	    func(err error) either.Either[string, int] {
+//	        return either.Left[int]("error")
+//	    },
+//	) // Right(42)
+//
+//go:inline
+func MonadChainLeft[EA, EB, A any](fa Either[EA, A], f Kleisli[EB, EA, A]) Either[EB, A] {
+	return MonadFold(fa, f, Of[EB])
+}
+
+// ChainLeft is the curried version of [MonadChainLeft].
+// Returns a function that sequences a computation on the Left (error) value.
+//
+// Note: ChainLeft is identical to [OrElse] - both provide the same functionality for error recovery.
+//
+// This is useful for creating reusable error handlers or transformers that can be
+// composed with other Either operations using pipes or function composition.
+//
+// Example:
+//
+//	// Create a reusable error handler
+//	handleNotFound := either.ChainLeft[error, string](func(err error) either.Either[string, int] {
+//	    if err.Error() == "not found" {
+//	        return either.Right[string](0)
+//	    }
+//	    return either.Left[int](err.Error())
+//	})
+//
+//	// Use in a pipeline
+//	result := F.Pipe1(
+//	    either.Left[int](errors.New("not found")),
+//	    handleNotFound,
+//	) // Right(0)
+//
+//go:inline
+func ChainLeft[EA, EB, A any](f Kleisli[EB, EA, A]) Kleisli[EB, Either[EA, A], A] {
+	return Fold(f, Of[EB])
+}
+
 // MonadChainFirst executes a side-effect computation but returns the original value.
 // Useful for performing actions (like logging) without changing the value.
 //
@@ -471,6 +546,8 @@ func Alt[E, A any](that Lazy[Either[E, A]]) Operator[E, A, A] {
 // If the Either is Left, it applies the provided function to the error value,
 // which returns a new Either that replaces the original.
 //
+// Note: OrElse is identical to [ChainLeft] - both provide the same functionality for error recovery.
+//
 // This is useful for error recovery, fallback logic, or chaining alternative computations.
 // The error type can be widened from E1 to E2, allowing transformation of error types.
 //

v2/either/either_test.go

@@ -124,79 +124,52 @@ func TestStringer(t *testing.T) {
 func TestZeroWithIntegers(t *testing.T) {
 	e := Zero[error, int]()
 
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(e), "Zero should create a Right value")
-	assert.False(t, IsLeft(e), "Zero should not create a Left value")
-
-	value, err := Unwrap(e)
-	assert.Equal(t, 0, value, "Right value should be zero for int")
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Error should be nil for Right value")
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[error](0), e, "Zero should create a Right value with zero for int")
 }
 
 // TestZeroWithStrings tests Zero function with string types
 func TestZeroWithStrings(t *testing.T) {
 	e := Zero[error, string]()
 
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(e), "Zero should create a Right value")
-	assert.False(t, IsLeft(e), "Zero should not create a Left value")
-
-	value, err := Unwrap(e)
-	assert.Equal(t, "", value, "Right value should be empty string")
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Error should be nil for Right value")
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[error](""), e, "Zero should create a Right value with empty string")
 }
 
 // TestZeroWithBooleans tests Zero function with boolean types
 func TestZeroWithBooleans(t *testing.T) {
 	e := Zero[error, bool]()
 
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(e), "Zero should create a Right value")
-
-	value, err := Unwrap(e)
-	assert.Equal(t, false, value, "Right value should be false for bool")
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Error should be nil for Right value")
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[error](false), e, "Zero should create a Right value with false for bool")
 }
 
 // TestZeroWithFloats tests Zero function with float types
 func TestZeroWithFloats(t *testing.T) {
 	e := Zero[error, float64]()
 
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(e), "Zero should create a Right value")
-
-	value, err := Unwrap(e)
-	assert.Equal(t, 0.0, value, "Right value should be 0.0 for float64")
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Error should be nil for Right value")
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[error](0.0), e, "Zero should create a Right value with 0.0 for float64")
 }
 
 // TestZeroWithPointers tests Zero function with pointer types
 func TestZeroWithPointers(t *testing.T) {
 	e := Zero[error, *int]()
 
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(e), "Zero should create a Right value")
-
-	value, err := Unwrap(e)
-	assert.Nil(t, value, "Right value should be nil for pointer type")
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Error should be nil for Right value")
+	var nilPtr *int
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[error](nilPtr), e, "Zero should create a Right value with nil pointer")
 }
 
 // TestZeroWithSlices tests Zero function with slice types
 func TestZeroWithSlices(t *testing.T) {
 	e := Zero[error, []int]()
 
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(e), "Zero should create a Right value")
-
-	value, err := Unwrap(e)
-	assert.Nil(t, value, "Right value should be nil for slice type")
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Error should be nil for Right value")
+	var nilSlice []int
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[error](nilSlice), e, "Zero should create a Right value with nil slice")
 }
 
 // TestZeroWithMaps tests Zero function with map types
 func TestZeroWithMaps(t *testing.T) {
 	e := Zero[error, map[string]int]()
 
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(e), "Zero should create a Right value")
-
-	value, err := Unwrap(e)
-	assert.Nil(t, value, "Right value should be nil for map type")
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Error should be nil for Right value")
+	var nilMap map[string]int
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[error](nilMap), e, "Zero should create a Right value with nil map")
 }
 
 // TestZeroWithStructs tests Zero function with struct types
@@ -208,23 +181,16 @@ func TestZeroWithStructs(t *testing.T) {
 
 	e := Zero[error, TestStruct]()
 
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(e), "Zero should create a Right value")
-
-	value, err := Unwrap(e)
 	expected := TestStruct{Field1: 0, Field2: ""}
-	assert.Equal(t, expected, value, "Right value should be zero value for struct")
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Error should be nil for Right value")
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[error](expected), e, "Zero should create a Right value with zero value for struct")
 }
 
 // TestZeroWithInterfaces tests Zero function with interface types
 func TestZeroWithInterfaces(t *testing.T) {
 	e := Zero[error, interface{}]()
 
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(e), "Zero should create a Right value")
-
-	value, err := Unwrap(e)
-	assert.Nil(t, value, "Right value should be nil for interface type")
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Error should be nil for Right value")
+	var nilInterface interface{}
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[error](nilInterface), e, "Zero should create a Right value with nil interface")
 }
 
 // TestZeroWithCustomErrorType tests Zero function with custom error types
@@ -236,12 +202,7 @@ func TestZeroWithCustomErrorType(t *testing.T) {
 
 	e := Zero[CustomError, string]()
 
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(e), "Zero should create a Right value")
-	assert.False(t, IsLeft(e), "Zero should not create a Left value")
-
-	value, err := Unwrap(e)
-	assert.Equal(t, "", value, "Right value should be empty string")
-	assert.Equal(t, CustomError{Code: 0, Message: ""}, err, "Error should be zero value for CustomError")
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[CustomError](""), e, "Zero should create a Right value with empty string")
 }
 
 // TestZeroCanBeUsedWithOtherFunctions tests that Zero Eithers work with other either functions
@@ -252,17 +213,13 @@ func TestZeroCanBeUsedWithOtherFunctions(t *testing.T) {
 	mapped := MonadMap(e, func(n int) string {
 		return fmt.Sprintf("%d", n)
 	})
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(mapped), "Mapped Zero should still be Right")
-	value, _ := Unwrap(mapped)
-	assert.Equal(t, "0", value, "Mapped value should be '0'")
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[error]("0"), mapped, "Mapped Zero should be Right with '0'")
 
 	// Test with Chain
 	chained := MonadChain(e, func(n int) Either[error, string] {
 		return Right[error](fmt.Sprintf("value: %d", n))
 	})
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(chained), "Chained Zero should still be Right")
-	chainedValue, _ := Unwrap(chained)
-	assert.Equal(t, "value: 0", chainedValue, "Chained value should be 'value: 0'")
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[error]("value: 0"), chained, "Chained Zero should be Right with 'value: 0'")
 
 	// Test with Fold
 	folded := MonadFold(e,
@@ -295,23 +252,15 @@ func TestZeroWithComplexTypes(t *testing.T) {
 
 	e := Zero[error, ComplexType]()
 
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(e), "Zero should create a Right value")
-
-	value, err := Unwrap(e)
 	expected := ComplexType{Nested: nil, Ptr: nil}
-	assert.Equal(t, expected, value, "Right value should be zero value for complex struct")
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Error should be nil for Right value")
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[error](expected), e, "Zero should create a Right value with zero value for complex struct")
 }
 
 // TestZeroWithOption tests Zero with Option type
 func TestZeroWithOption(t *testing.T) {
 	e := Zero[error, O.Option[int]]()
 
-	assert.True(t, IsRight(e), "Zero should create a Right value")
-
-	value, err := Unwrap(e)
-	assert.True(t, O.IsNone(value), "Right value should be None for Option type")
-	assert.Nil(t, err, "Error should be nil for Right value")
+	assert.Equal(t, Of[error](O.None[int]()), e, "Zero should create a Right value with None option")
 }
 
 // TestZeroIsNotLeft tests that Zero never creates a Left value
@@ -343,3 +292,211 @@ func TestZeroEqualsDefaultInitialization(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, IsRight(defaultInit), IsRight(zero), "Both should be Right")
 	assert.Equal(t, IsLeft(defaultInit), IsLeft(zero), "Both should not be Left")
 }
+
+// TestMonadChainLeft tests the MonadChainLeft function with various scenarios
+func TestMonadChainLeft(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("Left value is transformed by function", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Transform error to success
+		result := MonadChainLeft(
+			Left[int](errors.New("not found")),
+			func(err error) Either[string, int] {
+				if err.Error() == "not found" {
+					return Right[string](0) // default value
+				}
+				return Left[int](err.Error())
+			},
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of[string](0), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Left value error type is transformed", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Transform error type from int to string
+		result := MonadChainLeft(
+			Left[int](404),
+			func(code int) Either[string, int] {
+				return Left[int](fmt.Sprintf("Error code: %d", code))
+			},
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Left[int]("Error code: 404"), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Right value passes through unchanged", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Right value should not be affected
+		result := MonadChainLeft(
+			Right[error](42),
+			func(err error) Either[string, int] {
+				return Left[int]("should not be called")
+			},
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of[string](42), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Chain multiple error transformations", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// First transformation
+		step1 := MonadChainLeft(
+			Left[int](errors.New("error1")),
+			func(err error) Either[error, int] {
+				return Left[int](errors.New("error2"))
+			},
+		)
+		// Second transformation
+		step2 := MonadChainLeft(
+			step1,
+			func(err error) Either[string, int] {
+				return Left[int](err.Error())
+			},
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Left[int]("error2"), step2)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Error recovery with fallback", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Recover from specific errors
+		result := MonadChainLeft(
+			Left[int](errors.New("timeout")),
+			func(err error) Either[error, int] {
+				if err.Error() == "timeout" {
+					return Right[error](999) // fallback value
+				}
+				return Left[int](err)
+			},
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of[error](999), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Transform error to different Left", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Transform one error to another
+		result := MonadChainLeft(
+			Left[string]("original error"),
+			func(s string) Either[int, string] {
+				return Left[string](len(s))
+			},
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Left[string](14), result) // length of "original error"
+	})
+}
+
+// TestChainLeft tests the curried ChainLeft function
+func TestChainLeft(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("Curried function transforms Left value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create a reusable error handler
+		handleNotFound := ChainLeft[error, string](func(err error) Either[string, int] {
+			if err.Error() == "not found" {
+				return Right[string](0)
+			}
+			return Left[int](err.Error())
+		})
+
+		result := handleNotFound(Left[int](errors.New("not found")))
+		assert.Equal(t, Of[string](0), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Curried function with Right value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		handler := ChainLeft[error, string](func(err error) Either[string, int] {
+			return Left[int]("should not be called")
+		})
+
+		result := handler(Right[error](42))
+		assert.Equal(t, Of[string](42), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Use in pipeline with Pipe", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create error transformer
+		toStringError := ChainLeft[int, string](func(code int) Either[string, string] {
+			return Left[string](fmt.Sprintf("Error: %d", code))
+		})
+
+		result := F.Pipe1(
+			Left[string](404),
+			toStringError,
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Left[string]("Error: 404"), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Compose multiple ChainLeft operations", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// First handler: convert error to string
+		handler1 := ChainLeft[error, string](func(err error) Either[string, int] {
+			return Left[int](err.Error())
+		})
+
+		// Second handler: add prefix to string error
+		handler2 := ChainLeft[string, string](func(s string) Either[string, int] {
+			return Left[int]("Handled: " + s)
+		})
+
+		result := F.Pipe2(
+			Left[int](errors.New("original")),
+			handler1,
+			handler2,
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Left[int]("Handled: original"), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Error recovery in pipeline", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Handler that recovers from specific errors
+		recoverFromTimeout := ChainLeft(func(err error) Either[error, int] {
+			if err.Error() == "timeout" {
+				return Right[error](0) // recovered value
+			}
+			return Left[int](err) // propagate other errors
+		})
+
+		// Test with timeout error
+		result1 := F.Pipe1(
+			Left[int](errors.New("timeout")),
+			recoverFromTimeout,
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of[error](0), result1)
+
+		// Test with other error
+		result2 := F.Pipe1(
+			Left[int](errors.New("other error")),
+			recoverFromTimeout,
+		)
+		assert.True(t, IsLeft(result2))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Transform error type in pipeline", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Convert numeric error codes to descriptive strings
+		codeToMessage := ChainLeft(func(code int) Either[string, string] {
+			messages := map[int]string{
+				404: "Not Found",
+				500: "Internal Server Error",
+			}
+			if msg, ok := messages[code]; ok {
+				return Left[string](msg)
+			}
+			return Left[string](fmt.Sprintf("Unknown error: %d", code))
+		})
+
+		result := F.Pipe1(
+			Left[string](404),
+			codeToMessage,
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Left[string]("Not Found"), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("ChainLeft with Map combination", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Combine ChainLeft with Map to handle both channels
+		errorHandler := ChainLeft(func(err error) Either[string, int] {
+			return Left[int]("Error: " + err.Error())
+		})
+
+		valueMapper := Map[string](S.Format[int]("Value: %d"))
+
+		// Test with Left
+		result1 := F.Pipe2(
+			Left[int](errors.New("fail")),
+			errorHandler,
+			valueMapper,
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Left[string]("Error: fail"), result1)
+
+		// Test with Right
+		result2 := F.Pipe2(
+			Right[error](42),
+			errorHandler,
+			valueMapper,
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of[string]("Value: 42"), result2)
+	})
+}

v2/ioeither/ioeither.go

@@ -489,6 +489,8 @@ func After[E, A any](timestamp time.Time) Operator[E, A, A] {
 // If the input is a Left value, it applies the function f to transform the error and potentially
 // change the error type from EA to EB. If the input is a Right value, it passes through unchanged.
 //
+// Note: MonadChainLeft is identical to [OrElse] - both provide the same functionality for error recovery.
+//
 // This is useful for error recovery or error transformation scenarios where you want to handle
 // errors by performing another computation that may also fail.
 //
@@ -523,6 +525,8 @@ func MonadChainLeft[EA, EB, A any](fa IOEither[EA, A], f Kleisli[EB, EA, A]) IOE
 // ChainLeft is the curried version of [MonadChainLeft].
 // It returns a function that chains a computation on the left (error) side of an [IOEither].
 //
+// Note: ChainLeft is identical to [OrElse] - both provide the same functionality for error recovery.
+//
 // This is particularly useful in functional composition pipelines where you want to handle
 // errors by performing another computation that may also fail.
 //
@@ -644,6 +648,8 @@ func TapLeft[A, EA, EB, B any](f Kleisli[EB, EA, B]) Operator[EA, A, A] {
 // If the IOEither is Left, it applies the provided function to the error value,
 // which returns a new IOEither that replaces the original.
 //
+// Note: OrElse is identical to [ChainLeft] - both provide the same functionality for error recovery.
+//
 // This is useful for error recovery, fallback logic, or chaining alternative IO computations.
 // The error type can be widened from E1 to E2, allowing transformation of error types.
 //

v2/ioeither/ioeither_test.go

@@ -490,3 +490,148 @@ func TestOrElseW(t *testing.T) {
 	preserved := preserveRecover(preservedRight)()
 	assert.Equal(t, E.Right[AppError](42), preserved)
 }
+
+// TestChainLeftIdenticalToOrElse proves that ChainLeft and OrElse are identical functions.
+// This test verifies that both functions produce the same results for all scenarios:
+// - Left values with error recovery
+// - Left values with error transformation
+// - Right values passing through unchanged
+func TestChainLeftIdenticalToOrElse(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test 1: Left value with error recovery - both should recover to Right
+	t.Run("Left value recovery - ChainLeft equals OrElse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		recoveryFn := func(e string) IOEither[string, int] {
+			if e == "recoverable" {
+				return Right[string](42)
+			}
+			return Left[int](e)
+		}
+
+		input := Left[int]("recoverable")
+
+		// Using ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := ChainLeft(recoveryFn)(input)()
+
+		// Using OrElse
+		resultOrElse := OrElse(recoveryFn)(input)()
+
+		// Both should produce identical results
+		assert.Equal(t, resultOrElse, resultChainLeft)
+		assert.Equal(t, E.Right[string](42), resultChainLeft)
+	})
+
+	// Test 2: Left value with error transformation - both should transform error
+	t.Run("Left value transformation - ChainLeft equals OrElse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		transformFn := func(e string) IOEither[string, int] {
+			return Left[int]("transformed: " + e)
+		}
+
+		input := Left[int]("original error")
+
+		// Using ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := ChainLeft(transformFn)(input)()
+
+		// Using OrElse
+		resultOrElse := OrElse(transformFn)(input)()
+
+		// Both should produce identical results
+		assert.Equal(t, resultOrElse, resultChainLeft)
+		assert.Equal(t, E.Left[int]("transformed: original error"), resultChainLeft)
+	})
+
+	// Test 3: Right value - both should pass through unchanged
+	t.Run("Right value passthrough - ChainLeft equals OrElse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		handlerFn := func(e string) IOEither[string, int] {
+			return Left[int]("should not be called")
+		}
+
+		input := Right[string](100)
+
+		// Using ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := ChainLeft(handlerFn)(input)()
+
+		// Using OrElse
+		resultOrElse := OrElse(handlerFn)(input)()
+
+		// Both should produce identical results
+		assert.Equal(t, resultOrElse, resultChainLeft)
+		assert.Equal(t, E.Right[string](100), resultChainLeft)
+	})
+
+	// Test 4: Error type widening - both should handle type transformation
+	t.Run("Error type widening - ChainLeft equals OrElse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		widenFn := func(e string) IOEither[int, int] {
+			return Left[int](404)
+		}
+
+		input := Left[int]("not found")
+
+		// Using ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := ChainLeft(widenFn)(input)()
+
+		// Using OrElse
+		resultOrElse := OrElse(widenFn)(input)()
+
+		// Both should produce identical results
+		assert.Equal(t, resultOrElse, resultChainLeft)
+		assert.Equal(t, E.Left[int](404), resultChainLeft)
+	})
+
+	// Test 5: Composition in pipeline - both should work identically in F.Pipe
+	t.Run("Pipeline composition - ChainLeft equals OrElse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		recoveryFn := func(e string) IOEither[string, int] {
+			if e == "network error" {
+				return Right[string](0)
+			}
+			return Left[int](e)
+		}
+
+		input := Left[int]("network error")
+
+		// Using ChainLeft in pipeline
+		resultChainLeft := F.Pipe1(input, ChainLeft(recoveryFn))()
+
+		// Using OrElse in pipeline
+		resultOrElse := F.Pipe1(input, OrElse(recoveryFn))()
+
+		// Both should produce identical results
+		assert.Equal(t, resultOrElse, resultChainLeft)
+		assert.Equal(t, E.Right[string](0), resultChainLeft)
+	})
+
+	// Test 6: Multiple chained operations - both should behave identically
+	t.Run("Multiple operations - ChainLeft equals OrElse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		handler1 := func(e string) IOEither[string, int] {
+			if e == "error1" {
+				return Right[string](1)
+			}
+			return Left[int](e)
+		}
+
+		handler2 := func(e string) IOEither[string, int] {
+			if e == "error2" {
+				return Right[string](2)
+			}
+			return Left[int](e)
+		}
+
+		input := Left[int]("error2")
+
+		// Using ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := F.Pipe2(
+			input,
+			ChainLeft(handler1),
+			ChainLeft(handler2),
+		)()
+
+		// Using OrElse
+		resultOrElse := F.Pipe2(
+			input,
+			OrElse(handler1),
+			OrElse(handler2),
+		)()
+
+		// Both should produce identical results
+		assert.Equal(t, resultOrElse, resultChainLeft)
+		assert.Equal(t, E.Right[string](2), resultChainLeft)
+	})
+}

v2/optics/codec/codec_test.go

@@ -710,6 +710,146 @@ func TestTranscodeEither(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+func TestTranscodeEitherValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("validates Left value with context", func(t *testing.T) {
+		eitherCodec := TranscodeEither(String(), Int())
+		result := eitherCodec.Decode(either.Left[any, any](123)) // Invalid: should be string
+
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(result))
+		errors := either.MonadFold(result,
+			F.Identity[validation.Errors],
+			func(either.Either[string, int]) validation.Errors { return nil },
+		)
+		assert.NotEmpty(t, errors)
+		// Verify error contains type information
+		assert.Contains(t, fmt.Sprintf("%v", errors[0]), "string")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("validates Right value with context", func(t *testing.T) {
+		eitherCodec := TranscodeEither(String(), Int())
+		result := eitherCodec.Decode(either.Right[any, any]("not a number"))
+
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(result))
+		errors := either.MonadFold(result,
+			F.Identity[validation.Errors],
+			func(either.Either[string, int]) validation.Errors { return nil },
+		)
+		assert.NotEmpty(t, errors)
+		// Verify error contains type information
+		assert.Contains(t, fmt.Sprintf("%v", errors[0]), "int")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("preserves Either structure on validation failure", func(t *testing.T) {
+		eitherCodec := TranscodeEither(String(), Int())
+
+		// Left with wrong type
+		leftResult := eitherCodec.Decode(either.Left[any, any]([]int{1, 2, 3}))
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(leftResult))
+
+		// Right with wrong type
+		rightResult := eitherCodec.Decode(either.Right[any, any](true))
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(rightResult))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("validates with custom codec that can fail", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create a codec that only accepts positive integers
+		positiveInt := MakeType(
+			"PositiveInt",
+			func(u any) either.Either[error, int] {
+				i, ok := u.(int)
+				if !ok || i <= 0 {
+					return either.Left[int](fmt.Errorf("not a positive integer"))
+				}
+				return either.Of[error](i)
+			},
+			func(i int) Decode[Context, int] {
+				return func(c Context) Validation[int] {
+					if i <= 0 {
+						return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](i, "must be positive")(c)
+					}
+					return validation.Success(i)
+				}
+			},
+			F.Identity[int],
+		)
+
+		eitherCodec := TranscodeEither(String(), positiveInt)
+
+		// Valid positive integer
+		validResult := eitherCodec.Decode(either.Right[any](42))
+		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(validResult))
+
+		// Invalid: zero
+		zeroResult := eitherCodec.Decode(either.Right[any](0))
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(zeroResult))
+
+		// Invalid: negative
+		negativeResult := eitherCodec.Decode(either.Right[any](-5))
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(negativeResult))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("validates both branches independently", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create codecs with specific validation rules
+		nonEmptyString := MakeType(
+			"NonEmptyString",
+			func(u any) either.Either[error, string] {
+				s, ok := u.(string)
+				if !ok || len(s) == 0 {
+					return either.Left[string](fmt.Errorf("not a non-empty string"))
+				}
+				return either.Of[error](s)
+			},
+			func(s string) Decode[Context, string] {
+				return func(c Context) Validation[string] {
+					if len(s) == 0 {
+						return validation.FailureWithMessage[string](s, "must not be empty")(c)
+					}
+					return validation.Success(s)
+				}
+			},
+			F.Identity[string],
+		)
+
+		evenInt := MakeType(
+			"EvenInt",
+			func(u any) either.Either[error, int] {
+				i, ok := u.(int)
+				if !ok || i%2 != 0 {
+					return either.Left[int](fmt.Errorf("not an even integer"))
+				}
+				return either.Of[error](i)
+			},
+			func(i int) Decode[Context, int] {
+				return func(c Context) Validation[int] {
+					if i%2 != 0 {
+						return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](i, "must be even")(c)
+					}
+					return validation.Success(i)
+				}
+			},
+			F.Identity[int],
+		)
+
+		eitherCodec := TranscodeEither(nonEmptyString, evenInt)
+
+		// Valid Left: non-empty string
+		validLeft := eitherCodec.Decode(either.Left[int]("hello"))
+		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(validLeft))
+
+		// Invalid Left: empty string
+		invalidLeft := eitherCodec.Decode(either.Left[int](""))
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(invalidLeft))
+
+		// Valid Right: even integer
+		validRight := eitherCodec.Decode(either.Right[string](42))
+		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(validRight))
+
+		// Invalid Right: odd integer
+		invalidRight := eitherCodec.Decode(either.Right[string](43))
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(invalidRight))
+	})
+}
+
 func TestTranscodeEitherWithTransformation(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a codec that transforms strings to their lengths
 	stringToLength := MakeType(

v2/optics/codec/decode/OrElse_ChainLeft_explanation.md

@@ -0,0 +1,321 @@
+# ChainLeft and OrElse in the Decode Package
+
+## Overview
+
+In [`optics/codec/decode/monad.go`](monad.go:53-62), the [`ChainLeft`](monad.go:53) and [`OrElse`](monad.go:60) functions work with decoders that may fail during decoding operations.
+
+```go
+func ChainLeft[I, A any](f Kleisli[I, Errors, A]) Operator[I, A, A] {
+	return readert.Chain[Decode[I, A]](
+		validation.ChainLeft,
+		f,
+	)
+}
+
+func OrElse[I, A any](f Kleisli[I, Errors, A]) Operator[I, A, A] {
+	return ChainLeft(f)
+}
+```
+
+## Key Insight: OrElse is ChainLeft
+
+**`OrElse` is exactly the same as `ChainLeft`** - they are aliases with identical implementations and behavior. The choice between them is purely about **code readability and semantic intent**.
+
+## Understanding the Types
+
+### Decode[I, A]
+A decoder that takes input of type `I` and produces a `Validation[A]`:
+```go
+type Decode[I, A any] = func(I) Validation[A]
+```
+
+### Kleisli[I, Errors, A]
+A function that takes `Errors` and produces a `Decode[I, A]`:
+```go
+type Kleisli[I, Errors, A] = func(Errors) Decode[I, A]
+```
+
+This allows error handlers to:
+1. Access the validation errors that occurred
+2. Access the original input (via the returned Decode function)
+3. Either recover with a success value or produce new errors
+
+### Operator[I, A, A]
+A function that transforms one decoder into another:
+```go
+type Operator[I, A, A] = func(Decode[I, A]) Decode[I, A]
+```
+
+## Core Behavior
+
+Both [`ChainLeft`](monad.go:53) and [`OrElse`](monad.go:60) delegate to [`validation.ChainLeft`](../validation/monad.go:304), which provides:
+
+### 1. Error Aggregation
+When the transformation function returns a failure, **both the original errors AND the new errors are combined** using the Errors monoid:
+
+```go
+failingDecoder := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+    return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+        {Value: input, Messsage: "original error"},
+    })
+}
+
+handler := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+    return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+        return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+            {Messsage: "additional error"},
+        })
+    }
+})
+
+decoder := handler(failingDecoder)
+result := decoder("input")
+// Result contains BOTH errors: ["original error", "additional error"]
+```
+
+### 2. Success Pass-Through
+Success values pass through unchanged - the handler is never called:
+
+```go
+successDecoder := Of[string](42)
+
+handler := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+    return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+        return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+            {Messsage: "never called"},
+        })
+    }
+})
+
+decoder := handler(successDecoder)
+result := decoder("input")
+// Result: Success(42) - unchanged
+```
+
+### 3. Error Recovery
+The handler can recover from failures by returning a successful decoder:
+
+```go
+failingDecoder := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+    return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+        {Value: input, Messsage: "not found"},
+    })
+}
+
+recoverFromNotFound := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+    for _, err := range errs {
+        if err.Messsage == "not found" {
+            return Of[string](0) // recover with default
+        }
+    }
+    return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+        return either.Left[int](errs)
+    }
+})
+
+decoder := recoverFromNotFound(failingDecoder)
+result := decoder("input")
+// Result: Success(0) - recovered from failure
+```
+
+### 4. Access to Original Input
+The handler returns a `Decode[I, A]` function, giving it access to the original input:
+
+```go
+handler := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+    return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+        // Can access both errs and input here
+        if input == "special" {
+            return validation.Of(999)
+        }
+        return either.Left[int](errs)
+    }
+})
+```
+
+## Use Cases
+
+### 1. Fallback Decoding (OrElse reads better)
+
+```go
+// Primary decoder that may fail
+primaryDecoder := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+    n, err := strconv.Atoi(input)
+    if err != nil {
+        return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+            {Value: input, Messsage: "not a valid integer"},
+        })
+    }
+    return validation.Of(n)
+}
+
+// Use OrElse for semantic clarity - "try primary, or else use default"
+withDefault := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+    return Of[string](0) // default to 0 if decoding fails
+})
+
+decoder := withDefault(primaryDecoder)
+
+result1 := decoder("42")    // Success(42)
+result2 := decoder("abc")   // Success(0) - fallback
+```
+
+### 2. Error Context Addition (ChainLeft reads better)
+
+```go
+decodeUserAge := func(data map[string]any) Validation[int] {
+    age, ok := data["age"].(int)
+    if !ok {
+        return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+            {Value: data["age"], Messsage: "invalid type"},
+        })
+    }
+    return validation.Of(age)
+}
+
+// Use ChainLeft when emphasizing error transformation
+addContext := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[map[string]any, int] {
+    return func(data map[string]any) Validation[int] {
+        return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+            {
+                Context:  validation.Context{{Key: "user", Type: "User"}, {Key: "age", Type: "int"}},
+                Messsage: "failed to decode user age",
+            },
+        })
+    }
+})
+
+decoder := addContext(decodeUserAge)
+// Errors will include both original error and context
+```
+
+### 3. Conditional Recovery Based on Input
+
+```go
+decodePort := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+    port, err := strconv.Atoi(input)
+    if err != nil {
+        return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+            {Value: input, Messsage: "invalid port"},
+        })
+    }
+    return validation.Of(port)
+}
+
+// Recover with different defaults based on input
+smartDefault := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+    return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+        // Check input to determine appropriate default
+        if strings.Contains(input, "http") {
+            return validation.Of(80)
+        }
+        if strings.Contains(input, "https") {
+            return validation.Of(443)
+        }
+        return validation.Of(8080)
+    }
+})
+
+decoder := smartDefault(decodePort)
+result1 := decoder("http-server")   // Success(80)
+result2 := decoder("https-server")  // Success(443)
+result3 := decoder("other")         // Success(8080)
+```
+
+### 4. Pipeline Composition
+
+```go
+type Config struct {
+    DatabaseURL string
+}
+
+decodeConfig := func(data map[string]any) Validation[Config] {
+    url, ok := data["db_url"].(string)
+    if !ok {
+        return either.Left[Config](validation.Errors{
+            {Messsage: "missing db_url"},
+        })
+    }
+    return validation.Of(Config{DatabaseURL: url})
+}
+
+// Build a pipeline with multiple error handlers
+decoder := F.Pipe2(
+    decodeConfig,
+    OrElse(func(errs Errors) Decode[map[string]any, Config] {
+        // Try environment variable as fallback
+        return func(data map[string]any) Validation[Config] {
+            if url := os.Getenv("DATABASE_URL"); url != "" {
+                return validation.Of(Config{DatabaseURL: url})
+            }
+            return either.Left[Config](errs)
+        }
+    }),
+    OrElse(func(errs Errors) Decode[map[string]any, Config] {
+        // Final fallback to default
+        return Of[map[string]any](Config{
+            DatabaseURL: "localhost:5432",
+        })
+    }),
+)
+```
+
+## Comparison with validation.ChainLeft
+
+The decode package's [`ChainLeft`](monad.go:53) wraps [`validation.ChainLeft`](../validation/monad.go:304) using the Reader transformer pattern:
+
+| Aspect | validation.ChainLeft | decode.ChainLeft |
+|--------|---------------------|------------------|
+| **Input** | `Validation[A]` | `Decode[I, A]` (function) |
+| **Handler** | `func(Errors) Validation[A]` | `func(Errors) Decode[I, A]` |
+| **Output** | `Validation[A]` | `Decode[I, A]` (function) |
+| **Context** | No input access | Access to original input `I` |
+| **Use Case** | Pure validation logic | Decoding with input-dependent recovery |
+
+The key difference is that decode's version gives handlers access to the original input through the returned `Decode[I, A]` function.
+
+## When to Use Which Name
+
+### Use **OrElse** when:
+- Emphasizing fallback/alternative decoding logic
+- Providing default values on decode failure
+- The intent is "try this, or else try that"
+- Code reads more naturally with "or else"
+
+### Use **ChainLeft** when:
+- Emphasizing technical error channel transformation
+- Adding context or enriching error information
+- The focus is on error handling mechanics
+- Working with other functional programming concepts
+
+## Verification
+
+The test suite in [`monad_test.go`](monad_test.go:385) includes comprehensive tests proving that `OrElse` and `ChainLeft` are equivalent:
+
+- ✅ Identical behavior for Success values
+- ✅ Identical behavior for error recovery
+- ✅ Identical behavior for error aggregation
+- ✅ Identical behavior in pipeline composition
+- ✅ Identical behavior for multiple error scenarios
+- ✅ Both provide access to original input
+
+Run the tests:
+```bash
+go test -v -run "TestChainLeft|TestOrElse" ./optics/codec/decode
+```
+
+## Conclusion
+
+**`OrElse` is exactly the same as `ChainLeft`** in the decode package - they are aliases with identical implementations and behavior. Both:
+
+1. **Delegate to validation.ChainLeft** for error handling logic
+2. **Aggregate errors** when transformations fail
+3. **Preserve successes** unchanged
+4. **Enable recovery** from decode failures
+5. **Provide access** to the original input
+
+The choice between them is purely about **code readability and semantic intent**:
+- Use **`OrElse`** when emphasizing fallback/alternative decoding
+- Use **`ChainLeft`** when emphasizing error transformation
+
+Both maintain the critical property of **error aggregation**, ensuring all validation failures are preserved and reported together.

v2/optics/codec/decode/monad.go

@@ -50,6 +50,133 @@ func Chain[I, A, B any](f Kleisli[I, A, B]) Operator[I, A, B] {
 	)
 }
 
+// ChainLeft transforms the error channel of a decoder, enabling error recovery and context addition.
+// This is the left-biased monadic chain operation that operates on validation failures.
+//
+// **Key behaviors**:
+//   - Success values pass through unchanged - the handler is never called
+//   - On failure, the handler receives the errors and can recover or add context
+//   - When the handler also fails, **both original and new errors are aggregated**
+//   - The handler returns a Decode[I, A], giving it access to the original input
+//
+// **Error Aggregation**: Unlike standard Either operations, when the transformation function
+// returns a failure, both the original errors AND the new errors are combined using the
+// Errors monoid. This ensures no validation errors are lost.
+//
+// Use cases:
+//   - Adding contextual information to validation errors
+//   - Recovering from specific error conditions
+//   - Transforming error messages while preserving original errors
+//   - Implementing conditional recovery based on error types
+//
+// Example - Error recovery:
+//
+//	failingDecoder := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+//	    return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+//	        {Value: input, Messsage: "not found"},
+//	    })
+//	}
+//
+//	recoverFromNotFound := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+//	    for _, err := range errs {
+//	        if err.Messsage == "not found" {
+//	            return Of[string](0) // recover with default
+//	        }
+//	    }
+//	    return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+//	        return either.Left[int](errs)
+//	    }
+//	})
+//
+//	decoder := recoverFromNotFound(failingDecoder)
+//	result := decoder("input") // Success(0) - recovered from failure
+//
+// Example - Adding context:
+//
+//	addContext := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+//	    return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+//	        return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+//	            {
+//	                Context:  validation.Context{{Key: "user", Type: "User"}, {Key: "age", Type: "int"}},
+//	                Messsage: "failed to decode user age",
+//	            },
+//	        })
+//	    }
+//	})
+//	// Result will contain BOTH original error and context error
+func ChainLeft[I, A any](f Kleisli[I, Errors, A]) Operator[I, A, A] {
+	return readert.Chain[Decode[I, A]](
+		validation.ChainLeft,
+		f,
+	)
+}
+
+// OrElse provides fallback decoding logic when the primary decoder fails.
+// This is an alias for ChainLeft with a more semantic name for fallback scenarios.
+//
+// **OrElse is exactly the same as ChainLeft** - they are aliases with identical implementations
+// and behavior. The choice between them is purely about code readability and semantic intent:
+//   - Use **OrElse** when emphasizing fallback/alternative decoding logic
+//   - Use **ChainLeft** when emphasizing technical error channel transformation
+//
+// **Key behaviors** (identical to ChainLeft):
+//   - Success values pass through unchanged - the handler is never called
+//   - On failure, the handler receives the errors and can provide an alternative
+//   - When the handler also fails, **both original and new errors are aggregated**
+//   - The handler returns a Decode[I, A], giving it access to the original input
+//
+// The name "OrElse" reads naturally in code: "try this decoder, or else try this alternative."
+// This makes it ideal for expressing fallback logic and default values.
+//
+// Use cases:
+//   - Providing default values when decoding fails
+//   - Trying alternative decoding strategies
+//   - Implementing fallback chains with multiple alternatives
+//   - Input-dependent recovery (using access to original input)
+//
+// Example - Simple fallback:
+//
+//	primaryDecoder := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+//	    n, err := strconv.Atoi(input)
+//	    if err != nil {
+//	        return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+//	            {Value: input, Messsage: "not a valid integer"},
+//	        })
+//	    }
+//	    return validation.Of(n)
+//	}
+//
+//	withDefault := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+//	    return Of[string](0) // default to 0 if decoding fails
+//	})
+//
+//	decoder := withDefault(primaryDecoder)
+//	result1 := decoder("42")  // Success(42)
+//	result2 := decoder("abc") // Success(0) - fallback
+//
+// Example - Input-dependent fallback:
+//
+//	smartDefault := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+//	    return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+//	        // Access original input to determine appropriate default
+//	        if strings.Contains(input, "http") {
+//	            return validation.Of(80)
+//	        }
+//	        if strings.Contains(input, "https") {
+//	            return validation.Of(443)
+//	        }
+//	        return validation.Of(8080)
+//	    }
+//	})
+//
+//	decoder := smartDefault(decodePort)
+//	result1 := decoder("http-server")  // Success(80)
+//	result2 := decoder("https-server") // Success(443)
+//	result3 := decoder("other")        // Success(8080)
+func OrElse[I, A any](f Kleisli[I, Errors, A]) Operator[I, A, A] {
+	return ChainLeft(f)
+}
+
 // MonadMap transforms the decoded value using the provided function.
 // This is the functor map operation that applies a transformation to successful decode results.
 //

v2/optics/codec/decode/monad_test.go

@@ -382,3 +382,400 @@ func TestFunctorLaws(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, right(input), left(input))
 	})
 }
+
+// TestChainLeft tests the ChainLeft function
+func TestChainLeft(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("transforms failures while preserving successes", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create a failing decoder
+		failingDecoder := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+			return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: input, Messsage: "decode failed"},
+			})
+		}
+
+		// Handler that recovers from specific errors
+		handler := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+			for _, err := range errs {
+				if err.Messsage == "decode failed" {
+					return Of[string](0) // recover with default
+				}
+			}
+			return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+				return either.Left[int](errs)
+			}
+		})
+
+		decoder := handler(failingDecoder)
+		res := decoder("input")
+
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(0), res, "Should recover from failure")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("preserves success values unchanged", func(t *testing.T) {
+		successDecoder := Of[string](42)
+
+		handler := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+			return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+				return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+					{Messsage: "should not be called"},
+				})
+			}
+		})
+
+		decoder := handler(successDecoder)
+		res := decoder("input")
+
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(42), res, "Success should pass through unchanged")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("aggregates errors when transformation also fails", func(t *testing.T) {
+		failingDecoder := func(input string) Validation[string] {
+			return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: input, Messsage: "original error"},
+			})
+		}
+
+		handler := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, string] {
+			return func(input string) Validation[string] {
+				return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+					{Messsage: "additional error"},
+				})
+			}
+		})
+
+		decoder := handler(failingDecoder)
+		res := decoder("input")
+
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(res))
+		errors := either.MonadFold(res,
+			func(e Errors) Errors { return e },
+			func(string) Errors { return nil },
+		)
+		assert.Len(t, errors, 2, "Should aggregate both errors")
+
+		messages := make([]string, len(errors))
+		for i, err := range errors {
+			messages[i] = err.Messsage
+		}
+		assert.Contains(t, messages, "original error")
+		assert.Contains(t, messages, "additional error")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("adds context to errors", func(t *testing.T) {
+		failingDecoder := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+			return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: input, Messsage: "invalid format"},
+			})
+		}
+
+		addContext := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+			return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+				return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+					{
+						Context:  validation.Context{{Key: "user", Type: "User"}, {Key: "age", Type: "int"}},
+						Messsage: "failed to decode user age",
+					},
+				})
+			}
+		})
+
+		decoder := addContext(failingDecoder)
+		res := decoder("abc")
+
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(res))
+		errors := either.MonadFold(res,
+			func(e Errors) Errors { return e },
+			func(int) Errors { return nil },
+		)
+		assert.Len(t, errors, 2, "Should have both original and context errors")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("can be composed in pipeline", func(t *testing.T) {
+		failingDecoder := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+			return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: input, Messsage: "error1"},
+			})
+		}
+
+		handler1 := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+			return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+				return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+					{Messsage: "error2"},
+				})
+			}
+		})
+
+		handler2 := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+			// Check if we can recover
+			for _, err := range errs {
+				if err.Messsage == "error1" {
+					return Of[string](100) // recover
+				}
+			}
+			return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+				return either.Left[int](errs)
+			}
+		})
+
+		// Compose handlers
+		decoder := handler2(handler1(failingDecoder))
+		res := decoder("input")
+
+		// Should recover because error1 is present
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(100), res)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("works with different input types", func(t *testing.T) {
+		type Config struct {
+			Port int
+		}
+
+		failingDecoder := func(cfg Config) Validation[string] {
+			return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: cfg.Port, Messsage: "invalid port"},
+			})
+		}
+
+		handler := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Decode[Config, string] {
+			return Of[Config]("default-value")
+		})
+
+		decoder := handler(failingDecoder)
+		res := decoder(Config{Port: 9999})
+
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of("default-value"), res)
+	})
+}
+
+// TestOrElse tests the OrElse function
+func TestOrElse(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("OrElse is equivalent to ChainLeft - Success case", func(t *testing.T) {
+		successDecoder := Of[string](42)
+
+		handler := func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+			return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+				return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+					{Messsage: "should not be called"},
+				})
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Test with OrElse
+		resultOrElse := OrElse(handler)(successDecoder)("input")
+		// Test with ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := ChainLeft(handler)(successDecoder)("input")
+
+		assert.Equal(t, resultChainLeft, resultOrElse, "OrElse and ChainLeft should produce identical results for Success")
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(42), resultOrElse)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("OrElse is equivalent to ChainLeft - Failure recovery", func(t *testing.T) {
+		failingDecoder := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+			return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: input, Messsage: "not found"},
+			})
+		}
+
+		handler := func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+			for _, err := range errs {
+				if err.Messsage == "not found" {
+					return Of[string](0) // recover with default
+				}
+			}
+			return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+				return either.Left[int](errs)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Test with OrElse
+		resultOrElse := OrElse(handler)(failingDecoder)("input")
+		// Test with ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := ChainLeft(handler)(failingDecoder)("input")
+
+		assert.Equal(t, resultChainLeft, resultOrElse, "OrElse and ChainLeft should produce identical results for recovery")
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(0), resultOrElse)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("OrElse is equivalent to ChainLeft - Error aggregation", func(t *testing.T) {
+		failingDecoder := func(input string) Validation[string] {
+			return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: input, Messsage: "original error"},
+			})
+		}
+
+		handler := func(errs Errors) Decode[string, string] {
+			return func(input string) Validation[string] {
+				return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+					{Messsage: "additional error"},
+				})
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Test with OrElse
+		resultOrElse := OrElse(handler)(failingDecoder)("input")
+		// Test with ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := ChainLeft(handler)(failingDecoder)("input")
+
+		assert.Equal(t, resultChainLeft, resultOrElse, "OrElse and ChainLeft should produce identical results for error aggregation")
+
+		// Verify both aggregate errors
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(resultOrElse))
+		errors := either.MonadFold(resultOrElse,
+			func(e Errors) Errors { return e },
+			func(string) Errors { return nil },
+		)
+		assert.Len(t, errors, 2, "Should aggregate both errors")
+		messages := make([]string, len(errors))
+		for i, err := range errors {
+			messages[i] = err.Messsage
+		}
+		assert.Contains(t, messages, "original error")
+		assert.Contains(t, messages, "additional error")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("OrElse semantic meaning - fallback decoder", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// OrElse provides a semantic name for fallback/alternative decoding
+		// It reads naturally: "try this decoder, or else try this alternative"
+
+		primaryDecoder := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+			if input == "valid" {
+				return validation.Of(42)
+			}
+			return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: input, Messsage: "primary decode failed"},
+			})
+		}
+
+		// Use OrElse to provide a fallback: if decoding fails, use default value
+		withDefault := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+			return Of[string](0) // default to 0 if decoding fails
+		})
+
+		decoder := withDefault(primaryDecoder)
+
+		// Test success case
+		resSuccess := decoder("valid")
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(42), resSuccess, "Should use primary decoder on success")
+
+		// Test fallback case
+		resFallback := decoder("invalid")
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(0), resFallback, "OrElse provides fallback value")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("OrElse in pipeline composition", func(t *testing.T) {
+		failingDecoder := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+			return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: input, Messsage: "database error"},
+			})
+		}
+
+		addContext := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+			return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+				return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+					{Messsage: "context added"},
+				})
+			}
+		})
+
+		recoverFromNotFound := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+			for _, err := range errs {
+				if err.Messsage == "not found" {
+					return Of[string](0)
+				}
+			}
+			return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+				return either.Left[int](errs)
+			}
+		})
+
+		// Test error aggregation in pipeline
+		decoder1 := recoverFromNotFound(addContext(failingDecoder))
+		res1 := decoder1("input")
+
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(res1))
+		errors := either.MonadFold(res1,
+			func(e Errors) Errors { return e },
+			func(int) Errors { return nil },
+		)
+		// Errors accumulate through the pipeline
+		assert.Greater(t, len(errors), 1, "Should aggregate errors from pipeline")
+
+		// Test recovery in pipeline
+		failingDecoder2 := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+			return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: input, Messsage: "not found"},
+			})
+		}
+
+		decoder2 := recoverFromNotFound(addContext(failingDecoder2))
+		res2 := decoder2("input")
+
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(0), res2, "Should recover from 'not found' error")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("OrElse vs ChainLeft - identical behavior verification", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create various test scenarios
+		scenarios := []struct {
+			name    string
+			decoder Decode[string, int]
+			handler func(Errors) Decode[string, int]
+		}{
+			{
+				name:    "Success value",
+				decoder: Of[string](42),
+				handler: func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+					return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+						return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{{Messsage: "error"}})
+					}
+				},
+			},
+			{
+				name: "Failure with recovery",
+				decoder: func(input string) Validation[int] {
+					return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{{Messsage: "error"}})
+				},
+				handler: func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+					return Of[string](0)
+				},
+			},
+			{
+				name: "Failure with error transformation",
+				decoder: func(input string) Validation[int] {
+					return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{{Messsage: "error1"}})
+				},
+				handler: func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+					return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+						return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{{Messsage: "error2"}})
+					}
+				},
+			},
+			{
+				name: "Multiple errors aggregation",
+				decoder: func(input string) Validation[int] {
+					return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+						{Messsage: "error1"},
+						{Messsage: "error2"},
+					})
+				},
+				handler: func(errs Errors) Decode[string, int] {
+					return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+						return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+							{Messsage: "error3"},
+							{Messsage: "error4"},
+						})
+					}
+				},
+			},
+		}
+
+		for _, scenario := range scenarios {
+			t.Run(scenario.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+				resultOrElse := OrElse(scenario.handler)(scenario.decoder)("test-input")
+				resultChainLeft := ChainLeft(scenario.handler)(scenario.decoder)("test-input")
+
+				assert.Equal(t, resultChainLeft, resultOrElse,
+					"OrElse and ChainLeft must produce identical results for: %s", scenario.name)
+			})
+		}
+	})
+}

v2/optics/codec/decode/monoid.go

@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+package decode
+
+import "github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/monoid"
+
+// ApplicativeMonoid creates a Monoid instance for Decode[I, A] given a Monoid for A.
+// This allows combining decoders where both the decoded values and validation errors
+// are combined according to their respective monoid operations.
+//
+// The resulting monoid enables:
+//   - Combining multiple decoders that produce monoidal values
+//   - Accumulating validation errors when any decoder fails
+//   - Building complex decoders from simpler ones through composition
+//
+// **Behavior**:
+//   - Empty: Returns a decoder that always succeeds with the empty value from the inner monoid
+//   - Concat: Combines two decoders:
+//   - Both succeed: Combines decoded values using the inner monoid
+//   - Any fails: Accumulates all validation errors using the Errors monoid
+//
+// This is particularly useful for:
+//   - Aggregating results from multiple independent decoders
+//   - Building decoders that combine partial results
+//   - Validating and combining configuration from multiple sources
+//   - Parallel validation with result accumulation
+//
+// Example - Combining string decoders:
+//
+//	import S "github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/string"
+//
+//	// Create a monoid for decoders that produce strings
+//	m := ApplicativeMonoid[map[string]any](S.Monoid)
+//
+//	decoder1 := func(data map[string]any) Validation[string] {
+//	    if name, ok := data["firstName"].(string); ok {
+//	        return validation.Of(name)
+//	    }
+//	    return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+//	        {Messsage: "missing firstName"},
+//	    })
+//	}
+//
+//	decoder2 := func(data map[string]any) Validation[string] {
+//	    if name, ok := data["lastName"].(string); ok {
+//	        return validation.Of(" " + name)
+//	    }
+//	    return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+//	        {Messsage: "missing lastName"},
+//	    })
+//	}
+//
+//	// Combine decoders - will concatenate strings if both succeed
+//	combined := m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2)
+//	result := combined(map[string]any{
+//	    "firstName": "John",
+//	    "lastName":  "Doe",
+//	}) // Success("John Doe")
+//
+// Example - Error accumulation:
+//
+//	// If any decoder fails, errors are accumulated
+//	result := combined(map[string]any{}) // Failures with both error messages
+//
+// Example - Numeric aggregation:
+//
+//	import N "github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/number"
+//
+//	intMonoid := monoid.MakeMonoid(N.Add[int], 0)
+//	m := ApplicativeMonoid[string](intMonoid)
+//
+//	decoder1 := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+//	    return validation.Of(10)
+//	}
+//	decoder2 := func(input string) Validation[int] {
+//	    return validation.Of(32)
+//	}
+//
+//	combined := m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2)
+//	result := combined("input") // Success(42) - values are added
+func ApplicativeMonoid[I, A any](m Monoid[A]) Monoid[Decode[I, A]] {
+	return monoid.ApplicativeMonoid(
+		Of[I, A],
+		MonadMap[I, A, Endomorphism[A]],
+		MonadAp[A, I, A],
+		m,
+	)
+}
+
+// func AlternativeMonoid[I, A any](m Monoid[A]) Monoid[Decode[I, A]] {
+// 	return monoid.AlternativeMonoid(
+// 		Of[I, A],
+// 		MonadMap[I, A, func(A) A],
+// 		MonadAp[A, I, A],
+// 		MonadAlt[I, A],
+// 		m,
+// 	)
+// }

v2/optics/codec/decode/monoid_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,474 @@
+package decode
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/either"
+	F "github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/function"
+	MO "github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/monoid"
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/optics/codec/validation"
+	S "github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/string"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestApplicativeMonoid(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("with string monoid", func(t *testing.T) {
+		m := ApplicativeMonoid[string](S.Monoid)
+
+		t.Run("empty returns decoder that succeeds with empty string", func(t *testing.T) {
+			empty := m.Empty()
+			result := empty("any input")
+
+			assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(""), result)
+		})
+
+		t.Run("concat combines successful decoders", func(t *testing.T) {
+			decoder1 := Of[string]("Hello")
+			decoder2 := Of[string](" World")
+
+			combined := m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2)
+			result := combined("input")
+
+			assert.Equal(t, validation.Of("Hello World"), result)
+		})
+
+		t.Run("concat with failure returns failure", func(t *testing.T) {
+			decoder1 := Of[string]("Hello")
+			decoder2 := func(input string) Validation[string] {
+				return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+					{Value: input, Messsage: "decode failed"},
+				})
+			}
+
+			combined := m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2)
+			result := combined("input")
+
+			assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(result))
+			errors := either.MonadFold(result,
+				F.Identity[Errors],
+				func(string) Errors { return nil },
+			)
+			assert.Len(t, errors, 1)
+			assert.Equal(t, "decode failed", errors[0].Messsage)
+		})
+
+		t.Run("concat accumulates all errors from both failures", func(t *testing.T) {
+			decoder1 := func(input string) Validation[string] {
+				return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+					{Value: input, Messsage: "error 1"},
+				})
+			}
+			decoder2 := func(input string) Validation[string] {
+				return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+					{Value: input, Messsage: "error 2"},
+				})
+			}
+
+			combined := m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2)
+			result := combined("input")
+
+			assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(result))
+			errors := either.MonadFold(result,
+				F.Identity[Errors],
+				func(string) Errors { return nil },
+			)
+			assert.Len(t, errors, 2)
+			messages := []string{errors[0].Messsage, errors[1].Messsage}
+			assert.Contains(t, messages, "error 1")
+			assert.Contains(t, messages, "error 2")
+		})
+
+		t.Run("concat with empty preserves decoder", func(t *testing.T) {
+			decoder := Of[string]("test")
+			empty := m.Empty()
+
+			result1 := m.Concat(decoder, empty)("input")
+			result2 := m.Concat(empty, decoder)("input")
+
+			val1 := either.MonadFold(result1,
+				func(Errors) string { return "" },
+				F.Identity[string],
+			)
+			val2 := either.MonadFold(result2,
+				func(Errors) string { return "" },
+				F.Identity[string],
+			)
+
+			assert.Equal(t, "test", val1)
+			assert.Equal(t, "test", val2)
+		})
+	})
+
+	t.Run("with int addition monoid", func(t *testing.T) {
+		intMonoid := MO.MakeMonoid(
+			func(a, b int) int { return a + b },
+			0,
+		)
+		m := ApplicativeMonoid[string](intMonoid)
+
+		t.Run("empty returns decoder with zero", func(t *testing.T) {
+			empty := m.Empty()
+			result := empty("input")
+
+			value := either.MonadFold(result,
+				func(Errors) int { return -1 },
+				F.Identity[int],
+			)
+			assert.Equal(t, 0, value)
+		})
+
+		t.Run("concat adds decoded values", func(t *testing.T) {
+			decoder1 := Of[string](10)
+			decoder2 := Of[string](32)
+
+			combined := m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2)
+			result := combined("input")
+
+			value := either.MonadFold(result,
+				func(Errors) int { return 0 },
+				F.Identity[int],
+			)
+			assert.Equal(t, 42, value)
+		})
+
+		t.Run("multiple concat operations", func(t *testing.T) {
+			decoder1 := Of[string](1)
+			decoder2 := Of[string](2)
+			decoder3 := Of[string](3)
+			decoder4 := Of[string](4)
+
+			combined := m.Concat(m.Concat(m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2), decoder3), decoder4)
+			result := combined("input")
+
+			value := either.MonadFold(result,
+				func(Errors) int { return 0 },
+				F.Identity[int],
+			)
+			assert.Equal(t, 10, value)
+		})
+	})
+
+	t.Run("with map input type", func(t *testing.T) {
+		m := ApplicativeMonoid[map[string]any](S.Monoid)
+
+		t.Run("combines decoders with different inputs", func(t *testing.T) {
+			decoder1 := func(data map[string]any) Validation[string] {
+				if name, ok := data["firstName"].(string); ok {
+					return validation.Of(name)
+				}
+				return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+					{Messsage: "missing firstName"},
+				})
+			}
+
+			decoder2 := func(data map[string]any) Validation[string] {
+				if name, ok := data["lastName"].(string); ok {
+					return validation.Of(" " + name)
+				}
+				return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+					{Messsage: "missing lastName"},
+				})
+			}
+
+			combined := m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2)
+
+			// Test success case
+			result1 := combined(map[string]any{
+				"firstName": "John",
+				"lastName":  "Doe",
+			})
+			value1 := either.MonadFold(result1,
+				func(Errors) string { return "" },
+				F.Identity[string],
+			)
+			assert.Equal(t, "John Doe", value1)
+
+			// Test failure case - both fields missing
+			result2 := combined(map[string]any{})
+			assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(result2))
+			errors := either.MonadFold(result2,
+				F.Identity[Errors],
+				func(string) Errors { return nil },
+			)
+			assert.Len(t, errors, 2)
+		})
+	})
+}
+
+func TestMonoidLaws(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("ApplicativeMonoid satisfies monoid laws", func(t *testing.T) {
+		m := ApplicativeMonoid[string](S.Monoid)
+
+		decoder1 := Of[string]("a")
+		decoder2 := Of[string]("b")
+
+		t.Run("left identity", func(t *testing.T) {
+			// empty + a = a
+			result := m.Concat(m.Empty(), decoder1)("input")
+			value := either.MonadFold(result,
+				func(Errors) string { return "" },
+				F.Identity[string],
+			)
+			assert.Equal(t, "a", value)
+		})
+
+		t.Run("right identity", func(t *testing.T) {
+			// a + empty = a
+			result := m.Concat(decoder1, m.Empty())("input")
+			value := either.MonadFold(result,
+				func(Errors) string { return "" },
+				F.Identity[string],
+			)
+			assert.Equal(t, "a", value)
+		})
+
+		t.Run("associativity", func(t *testing.T) {
+			decoder3 := Of[string]("c")
+			// (a + b) + c = a + (b + c)
+			left := m.Concat(m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2), decoder3)("input")
+			right := m.Concat(decoder1, m.Concat(decoder2, decoder3))("input")
+
+			leftVal := either.MonadFold(left,
+				func(Errors) string { return "" },
+				F.Identity[string],
+			)
+			rightVal := either.MonadFold(right,
+				func(Errors) string { return "" },
+				F.Identity[string],
+			)
+
+			assert.Equal(t, "abc", leftVal)
+			assert.Equal(t, "abc", rightVal)
+		})
+	})
+}
+
+func TestApplicativeMonoidWithFailures(t *testing.T) {
+	m := ApplicativeMonoid[string](S.Monoid)
+
+	t.Run("failure propagates through concat", func(t *testing.T) {
+		decoder1 := Of[string]("a")
+		decoder2 := func(input string) Validation[string] {
+			return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: input, Messsage: "error"},
+			})
+		}
+		decoder3 := Of[string]("c")
+
+		combined := m.Concat(m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2), decoder3)
+		result := combined("input")
+
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(result))
+		errors := either.MonadFold(result,
+			F.Identity[Errors],
+			func(string) Errors { return nil },
+		)
+		assert.Len(t, errors, 1)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("multiple failures accumulate", func(t *testing.T) {
+		decoder1 := func(input string) Validation[string] {
+			return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: input, Messsage: "error 1"},
+			})
+		}
+		decoder2 := func(input string) Validation[string] {
+			return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: input, Messsage: "error 2"},
+			})
+		}
+		decoder3 := func(input string) Validation[string] {
+			return either.Left[string](validation.Errors{
+				{Value: input, Messsage: "error 3"},
+			})
+		}
+
+		combined := m.Concat(m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2), decoder3)
+		result := combined("input")
+
+		errors := either.MonadFold(result,
+			F.Identity[Errors],
+			func(string) Errors { return nil },
+		)
+		assert.Len(t, errors, 3)
+		messages := make([]string, len(errors))
+		for i, err := range errors {
+			messages[i] = err.Messsage
+		}
+		assert.Contains(t, messages, "error 1")
+		assert.Contains(t, messages, "error 2")
+		assert.Contains(t, messages, "error 3")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestApplicativeMonoidEdgeCases(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("with custom struct monoid", func(t *testing.T) {
+		type Counter struct{ Count int }
+
+		counterMonoid := MO.MakeMonoid(
+			func(a, b Counter) Counter { return Counter{Count: a.Count + b.Count} },
+			Counter{Count: 0},
+		)
+
+		m := ApplicativeMonoid[string](counterMonoid)
+
+		decoder1 := Of[string](Counter{Count: 5})
+		decoder2 := Of[string](Counter{Count: 10})
+
+		combined := m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2)
+		result := combined("input")
+
+		value := either.MonadFold(result,
+			func(Errors) Counter { return Counter{} },
+			F.Identity[Counter],
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, 15, value.Count)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("empty concat empty", func(t *testing.T) {
+		m := ApplicativeMonoid[string](S.Monoid)
+
+		combined := m.Concat(m.Empty(), m.Empty())
+		result := combined("input")
+
+		value := either.MonadFold(result,
+			func(Errors) string { return "ERROR" },
+			F.Identity[string],
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, "", value)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("with different input types", func(t *testing.T) {
+		intMonoid := MO.MakeMonoid(
+			func(a, b int) int { return a + b },
+			0,
+		)
+		m := ApplicativeMonoid[int](intMonoid)
+
+		decoder1 := func(input int) Validation[int] {
+			return validation.Of(input * 2)
+		}
+		decoder2 := func(input int) Validation[int] {
+			return validation.Of(input + 10)
+		}
+
+		combined := m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2)
+		result := combined(5)
+
+		value := either.MonadFold(result,
+			func(Errors) int { return 0 },
+			F.Identity[int],
+		)
+		// (5 * 2) + (5 + 10) = 10 + 15 = 25
+		assert.Equal(t, 25, value)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestApplicativeMonoidRealWorldScenarios(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("combining configuration from multiple sources", func(t *testing.T) {
+		type Config struct {
+			Host string
+			Port int
+		}
+
+		// Monoid that combines configs (last non-empty wins for strings, sum for ints)
+		configMonoid := MO.MakeMonoid(
+			func(a, b Config) Config {
+				host := a.Host
+				if b.Host != "" {
+					host = b.Host
+				}
+				return Config{
+					Host: host,
+					Port: a.Port + b.Port,
+				}
+			},
+			Config{Host: "", Port: 0},
+		)
+
+		m := ApplicativeMonoid[map[string]any](configMonoid)
+
+		decoder1 := func(data map[string]any) Validation[Config] {
+			if host, ok := data["host"].(string); ok {
+				return validation.Of(Config{Host: host, Port: 0})
+			}
+			return either.Left[Config](validation.Errors{
+				{Messsage: "missing host"},
+			})
+		}
+
+		decoder2 := func(data map[string]any) Validation[Config] {
+			if port, ok := data["port"].(int); ok {
+				return validation.Of(Config{Host: "", Port: port})
+			}
+			return either.Left[Config](validation.Errors{
+				{Messsage: "missing port"},
+			})
+		}
+
+		combined := m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2)
+
+		// Success case
+		result := combined(map[string]any{
+			"host": "localhost",
+			"port": 8080,
+		})
+
+		config := either.MonadFold(result,
+			func(Errors) Config { return Config{} },
+			F.Identity[Config],
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, "localhost", config.Host)
+		assert.Equal(t, 8080, config.Port)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("aggregating validation results", func(t *testing.T) {
+		intMonoid := MO.MakeMonoid(
+			func(a, b int) int { return a + b },
+			0,
+		)
+		m := ApplicativeMonoid[string](intMonoid)
+
+		// Decoder that extracts and validates a number
+		makeDecoder := func(value int, shouldFail bool) Decode[string, int] {
+			return func(input string) Validation[int] {
+				if shouldFail {
+					return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+						{Value: input, Messsage: "validation failed"},
+					})
+				}
+				return validation.Of(value)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// All succeed - values are summed
+		decoder1 := makeDecoder(10, false)
+		decoder2 := makeDecoder(20, false)
+		decoder3 := makeDecoder(12, false)
+
+		combined := m.Concat(m.Concat(decoder1, decoder2), decoder3)
+		result := combined("input")
+
+		value := either.MonadFold(result,
+			func(Errors) int { return 0 },
+			F.Identity[int],
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, 42, value)
+
+		// Some fail - errors are accumulated
+		decoder4 := makeDecoder(10, true)
+		decoder5 := makeDecoder(20, true)
+
+		combinedFail := m.Concat(decoder4, decoder5)
+		resultFail := combinedFail("input")
+
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(resultFail))
+		errors := either.MonadFold(resultFail,
+			F.Identity[Errors],
+			func(int) Errors { return nil },
+		)
+		assert.Len(t, errors, 2)
+	})
+}
+
+// Made with Bob

v2/optics/codec/decode/types.go

@@ -17,11 +17,15 @@ package decode
 
 import (
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/endomorphism"
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/lazy"
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/monoid"
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/optics/codec/validation"
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/reader"
 )
 
 type (
+	Errors = validation.Errors
+
 	// Validation represents the result of a validation operation that may contain
 	// validation errors or a successfully validated value of type A.
 	// This is an alias for validation.Validation[A], which is Either[Errors, A].
@@ -217,4 +221,8 @@ type (
 	//	    LetL(nameLens, normalize),
 	//	)
 	Endomorphism[A any] = endomorphism.Endomorphism[A]
+
+	Monoid[A any] = monoid.Monoid[A]
+
+	Lazy[A any] = lazy.Lazy[A]
 )

v2/optics/codec/either.go

@@ -0,0 +1,282 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2023 - 2025 IBM Corp.
+// All rights reserved.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package codec
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/array"
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/either"
+	F "github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/function"
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/optics/codec/validate"
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/optics/codec/validation"
+)
+
+// encodeEither creates an encoder for Either[A, B] values.
+//
+// This function produces an encoder that handles both Left and Right cases of an Either value.
+// It uses the provided codecs to encode the Left (A) and Right (B) values respectively.
+//
+// # Type Parameters
+//
+//   - A: The type of the Left value
+//   - B: The type of the Right value
+//   - O: The output type after encoding
+//   - I: The input type for validation (not used in encoding)
+//
+// # Parameters
+//
+//   - leftItem: The codec for encoding Left values of type A
+//   - rightItem: The codec for encoding Right values of type B
+//
+// # Returns
+//
+// An Encode function that takes an Either[A, B] and returns O by encoding
+// either the Left or Right value using the appropriate codec.
+//
+// # Example
+//
+//	stringCodec := String()
+//	intCodec := Int()
+//	encoder := encodeEither(stringCodec, intCodec)
+//
+//	// Encode a Left value
+//	leftResult := encoder(either.Left[int]("error"))
+//	// leftResult contains the encoded string "error"
+//
+//	// Encode a Right value
+//	rightResult := encoder(either.Right[string](42))
+//	// rightResult contains the encoded int 42
+//
+// # Notes
+//
+//   - Uses either.Fold to pattern match on the Either value
+//   - Left values are encoded using leftItem.Encode
+//   - Right values are encoded using rightItem.Encode
+func encodeEither[A, B, O, I any](
+	leftItem Type[A, O, I],
+	rightItem Type[B, O, I],
+) Encode[either.Either[A, B], O] {
+	return either.Fold(
+		leftItem.Encode,
+		rightItem.Encode,
+	)
+}
+
+// validateEither creates a validator for Either[A, B] values.
+//
+// This function produces a validator that attempts to validate the input as both
+// a Left (A) and Right (B) value. The validation strategy is:
+//  1. First, try to validate as a Right value (B)
+//  2. If Right validation succeeds, return Either.Right[A](B)
+//  3. If Right validation fails, try to validate as a Left value (A)
+//  4. If Left validation succeeds, return Either.Left[B](A)
+//  5. If both validations fail, concatenate all errors from both attempts
+//
+// This approach ensures that the validator tries both branches and provides
+// comprehensive error information when both fail.
+//
+// # Type Parameters
+//
+//   - A: The type of the Left value
+//   - B: The type of the Right value
+//   - O: The output type after encoding (not used in validation)
+//   - I: The input type to validate
+//
+// # Parameters
+//
+//   - leftItem: The codec for validating Left values of type A
+//   - rightItem: The codec for validating Right values of type B
+//
+// # Returns
+//
+// A Validate function that takes an input I and returns a Decode function.
+// The Decode function takes a Context and returns a Validation[Either[A, B]].
+//
+// # Validation Logic
+//
+// The validator follows this decision tree:
+//
+//	Input I
+//	  |
+//	  +--> Validate as Right (B)
+//	         |
+//	         +-- Success --> Return Either.Right[A](B)
+//	         |
+//	         +-- Failure --> Validate as Left (A)
+//	                           |
+//	                           +-- Success --> Return Either.Left[B](A)
+//	                           |
+//	                           +-- Failure --> Return all errors (Left + Right)
+//
+// # Example
+//
+//	stringCodec := String()
+//	intCodec := Int()
+//	validator := validateEither(stringCodec, intCodec)
+//
+//	// Validate a string (will succeed as Left)
+//	result1 := validator("hello")(validation.Context{})
+//	// result1 is Success(Either.Left[int]("hello"))
+//
+//	// Validate an int (will succeed as Right)
+//	result2 := validator(42)(validation.Context{})
+//	// result2 is Success(Either.Right[string](42))
+//
+//	// Validate something that's neither (will fail with both errors)
+//	result3 := validator([]int{1, 2, 3})(validation.Context{})
+//	// result3 is Failure with errors from both string and int validation
+//
+// # Notes
+//
+//   - Prioritizes Right validation over Left validation
+//   - Accumulates errors from both branches when both fail
+//   - Uses the validation context to provide detailed error messages
+//   - The validator is lazy: it only evaluates Left if Right fails
+func validateEither[A, B, O, I any](
+	leftItem Type[A, O, I],
+	rightItem Type[B, O, I],
+) Validate[I, either.Either[A, B]] {
+
+	// F.Pipe1(
+	// 	leftItem.Decode,
+	// 	decode.OrElse()
+	// )
+
+	return func(i I) Decode[Context, either.Either[A, B]] {
+		valRight := rightItem.Validate(i)
+		valLeft := leftItem.Validate(i)
+
+		return func(ctx Context) Validation[either.Either[A, B]] {
+
+			resRight := valRight(ctx)
+
+			return either.Fold(
+				func(rightErrors validate.Errors) Validation[either.Either[A, B]] {
+					resLeft := valLeft(ctx)
+					return either.Fold(
+						func(leftErrors validate.Errors) Validation[either.Either[A, B]] {
+							return validation.Failures[either.Either[A, B]](array.Concat(leftErrors)(rightErrors))
+						},
+						F.Flow2(either.Left[B, A], validation.Of),
+					)(resLeft)
+				},
+				F.Flow2(either.Right[A, B], validation.Of),
+			)(resRight)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Either creates a codec for Either[A, B] values.
+//
+// This function constructs a complete codec that can encode, decode, and validate
+// Either values. An Either represents a value that can be one of two types: Left (A)
+// or Right (B). This is commonly used for error handling, where Left represents an
+// error and Right represents a success value.
+//
+// The codec handles both branches of the Either type using the provided codecs for
+// each branch. During validation, it attempts to validate the input as both types
+// and succeeds if either validation passes.
+//
+// # Type Parameters
+//
+//   - A: The type of the Left value
+//   - B: The type of the Right value
+//   - O: The output type after encoding
+//   - I: The input type for validation
+//
+// # Parameters
+//
+//   - leftItem: The codec for handling Left values of type A
+//   - rightItem: The codec for handling Right values of type B
+//
+// # Returns
+//
+// A Type[either.Either[A, B], O, I] that can encode, decode, and validate Either values.
+//
+// # Codec Behavior
+//
+// Encoding:
+//   - Left values are encoded using leftItem.Encode
+//   - Right values are encoded using rightItem.Encode
+//
+// Validation:
+//   - First attempts to validate as Right (B)
+//   - If Right fails, attempts to validate as Left (A)
+//   - If both fail, returns all accumulated errors
+//   - If either succeeds, returns the corresponding Either value
+//
+// Type Checking:
+//   - Uses Is[either.Either[A, B]]() to verify the value is an Either
+//
+// Naming:
+//   - The codec name is "Either[<leftName>, <rightName>]"
+//   - Example: "Either[string, int]"
+//
+// # Example
+//
+//	// Create a codec for Either[string, int]
+//	stringCodec := String()
+//	intCodec := Int()
+//	eitherCodec := Either(stringCodec, intCodec)
+//
+//	// Encode a Left value
+//	leftEncoded := eitherCodec.Encode(either.Left[int]("error"))
+//	// leftEncoded contains the encoded string
+//
+//	// Encode a Right value
+//	rightEncoded := eitherCodec.Encode(either.Right[string](42))
+//	// rightEncoded contains the encoded int
+//
+//	// Decode/validate an input
+//	result := eitherCodec.Decode("hello")
+//	// result is Success(Either.Left[int]("hello"))
+//
+//	result2 := eitherCodec.Decode(42)
+//	// result2 is Success(Either.Right[string](42))
+//
+//	// Get the codec name
+//	name := eitherCodec.Name()
+//	// name is "Either[string, int]"
+//
+// # Use Cases
+//
+//   - Error handling: Either[Error, Value]
+//   - Alternative values: Either[DefaultValue, CustomValue]
+//   - Union types: Either[TypeA, TypeB]
+//   - Validation results: Either[ValidationError, ValidatedValue]
+//
+// # Notes
+//
+//   - The codec prioritizes Right validation over Left validation
+//   - Both branches must have compatible encoding output types (O)
+//   - Both branches must have compatible validation input types (I)
+//   - The codec name includes the names of both branch codecs
+//   - This is a building block for more complex sum types
+func Either[A, B, O, I any](
+	leftItem Type[A, O, I],
+	rightItem Type[B, O, I],
+) Type[either.Either[A, B], O, I] {
+	name := fmt.Sprintf("Either[%s, %s]", leftItem.Name(), rightItem.Name())
+	isEither := Is[either.Either[A, B]]()
+
+	return MakeType(
+		name,
+		isEither,
+		validateEither(leftItem, rightItem),
+		encodeEither(leftItem, rightItem),
+	)
+}

v2/optics/codec/either_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,347 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2023 - 2025 IBM Corp.
+// All rights reserved.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package codec
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strconv"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/either"
+	F "github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/function"
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/optics/codec/validation"
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/reader"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// TestEitherWithIdentityCodecs tests the Either function with identity codecs
+// where both branches have the same output and input types
+func TestEitherWithIdentityCodecs(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("creates codec with correct name", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// The Either function is designed for cases where both branches encode to the same type
+		// For example, both encode to string or both encode to JSON
+
+		// Create codecs that both encode to string
+		stringToString := Id[string]()
+		intToString := IntFromString()
+
+		eitherCodec := Either(stringToString, intToString)
+
+		assert.Equal(t, "Either[string, IntFromString]", eitherCodec.Name())
+	})
+}
+
+// TestEitherEncode tests encoding of Either values
+func TestEitherEncode(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create codecs that both encode to string
+	stringToString := Id[string]()
+	intToString := IntFromString()
+
+	eitherCodec := Either(stringToString, intToString)
+
+	t.Run("encodes Left value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		leftValue := either.Left[int]("hello")
+		encoded := eitherCodec.Encode(leftValue)
+
+		assert.Equal(t, "hello", encoded)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("encodes Right value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		rightValue := either.Right[string](42)
+		encoded := eitherCodec.Encode(rightValue)
+
+		assert.Equal(t, "42", encoded)
+	})
+}
+
+// TestEitherDecode tests decoding/validation of Either values
+func TestEitherDecode(t *testing.T) {
+	getOrElseNull := either.GetOrElse(reader.Of[validation.Errors, either.Either[string, int]](either.Left[int]("")))
+
+	// Create codecs that both work with string input
+	stringCodec := Id[string]()
+	intFromString := IntFromString()
+
+	eitherCodec := Either(stringCodec, intFromString)
+
+	t.Run("decodes integer string as Right", func(t *testing.T) {
+		result := eitherCodec.Decode("42")
+
+		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result), "should successfully decode integer string")
+
+		value := getOrElseNull(result)
+		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(value), "should be Right")
+
+		rightValue := either.MonadFold(value,
+			func(string) int { return 0 },
+			F.Identity[int],
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, 42, rightValue)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("decodes non-integer string as Left", func(t *testing.T) {
+		result := eitherCodec.Decode("hello")
+
+		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result), "should successfully decode string")
+
+		value := getOrElseNull(result)
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(value), "should be Left")
+
+		leftValue := either.MonadFold(value,
+			F.Identity[string],
+			func(int) string { return "" },
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, "hello", leftValue)
+	})
+}
+
+// TestEitherValidation tests validation behavior
+func TestEitherValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("validates with custom codecs", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create a codec that only accepts non-empty strings
+		nonEmptyString := MakeType(
+			"NonEmptyString",
+			func(u any) either.Either[error, string] {
+				s, ok := u.(string)
+				if !ok || len(s) == 0 {
+					return either.Left[string](fmt.Errorf("not a non-empty string"))
+				}
+				return either.Of[error](s)
+			},
+			func(s string) Decode[Context, string] {
+				return func(c Context) Validation[string] {
+					if len(s) == 0 {
+						return validation.FailureWithMessage[string](s, "must not be empty")(c)
+					}
+					return validation.Success(s)
+				}
+			},
+			F.Identity[string],
+		)
+
+		// Create a codec that only accepts positive integers from strings
+		positiveIntFromString := MakeType(
+			"PositiveInt",
+			func(u any) either.Either[error, int] {
+				i, ok := u.(int)
+				if !ok || i <= 0 {
+					return either.Left[int](fmt.Errorf("not a positive integer"))
+				}
+				return either.Of[error](i)
+			},
+			func(s string) Decode[Context, int] {
+				return func(c Context) Validation[int] {
+					var n int
+					_, err := fmt.Sscanf(s, "%d", &n)
+					if err != nil {
+						return validation.FailureWithError[int](s, "expected integer string")(err)(c)
+					}
+					if n <= 0 {
+						return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](n, "must be positive")(c)
+					}
+					return validation.Success(n)
+				}
+			},
+			func(n int) string {
+				return fmt.Sprintf("%d", n)
+			},
+		)
+
+		eitherCodec := Either(nonEmptyString, positiveIntFromString)
+
+		// Valid non-empty string
+		validLeft := eitherCodec.Decode("hello")
+		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(validLeft))
+
+		// Valid positive integer
+		validRight := eitherCodec.Decode("42")
+		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(validRight))
+
+		// Invalid empty string - should fail both validations
+		invalidEmpty := eitherCodec.Decode("")
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(invalidEmpty))
+
+		// Invalid zero - should fail Right validation, succeed as Left
+		zeroResult := eitherCodec.Decode("0")
+		// "0" is a valid non-empty string, so it should succeed as Left
+		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(zeroResult))
+	})
+}
+
+// TestEitherRoundTrip tests encoding and decoding round trips
+func TestEitherRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
+	stringCodec := Id[string]()
+	intFromString := IntFromString()
+
+	eitherCodec := Either(stringCodec, intFromString)
+
+	t.Run("round-trip Left value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		original := "hello"
+
+		// Decode
+		decodeResult := eitherCodec.Decode(original)
+		require.True(t, either.IsRight(decodeResult))
+
+		decoded := either.MonadFold(decodeResult,
+			func(validation.Errors) either.Either[string, int] { return either.Left[int]("") },
+			F.Identity[either.Either[string, int]],
+		)
+
+		// Encode
+		encoded := eitherCodec.Encode(decoded)
+
+		// Verify
+		assert.Equal(t, original, encoded)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("round-trip Right value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		original := "42"
+
+		// Decode
+		decodeResult := eitherCodec.Decode(original)
+		require.True(t, either.IsRight(decodeResult))
+
+		decoded := either.MonadFold(decodeResult,
+			func(validation.Errors) either.Either[string, int] { return either.Right[string](0) },
+			F.Identity[either.Either[string, int]],
+		)
+
+		// Encode
+		encoded := eitherCodec.Encode(decoded)
+
+		// Verify
+		assert.Equal(t, original, encoded)
+	})
+}
+
+// TestEitherPrioritization tests that Right validation is prioritized over Left
+func TestEitherPrioritization(t *testing.T) {
+	stringCodec := Id[string]()
+	intFromString := IntFromString()
+
+	eitherCodec := Either(stringCodec, intFromString)
+
+	t.Run("prioritizes Right over Left when both could succeed", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// "42" can be validated as both string (Left) and int (Right)
+		// The codec should prioritize Right
+		result := eitherCodec.Decode("42")
+
+		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
+
+		value := either.MonadFold(result,
+			func(validation.Errors) either.Either[string, int] { return either.Left[int]("") },
+			F.Identity[either.Either[string, int]],
+		)
+
+		// Should be Right because int validation succeeds and is prioritized
+		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(value))
+
+		rightValue := either.MonadFold(value,
+			func(string) int { return 0 },
+			F.Identity[int],
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, 42, rightValue)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("falls back to Left when Right fails", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// "hello" can only be validated as string (Left), not as int (Right)
+		result := eitherCodec.Decode("hello")
+
+		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
+
+		value := either.MonadFold(result,
+			func(validation.Errors) either.Either[string, int] { return either.Left[int]("") },
+			F.Identity[either.Either[string, int]],
+		)
+
+		// Should be Left because int validation failed
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(value))
+
+		leftValue := either.MonadFold(value,
+			F.Identity[string],
+			func(int) string { return "" },
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, "hello", leftValue)
+	})
+}
+
+// TestEitherErrorAccumulation tests that errors from both branches are accumulated
+func TestEitherErrorAccumulation(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create codecs with specific validation rules that will both fail
+	nonEmptyString := MakeType(
+		"NonEmptyString",
+		func(u any) either.Either[error, string] {
+			s, ok := u.(string)
+			if !ok || len(s) == 0 {
+				return either.Left[string](fmt.Errorf("not a non-empty string"))
+			}
+			return either.Of[error](s)
+		},
+		func(s string) Decode[Context, string] {
+			return func(c Context) Validation[string] {
+				if len(s) == 0 {
+					return validation.FailureWithMessage[string](s, "must not be empty")(c)
+				}
+				return validation.Success(s)
+			}
+		},
+		F.Identity[string],
+	)
+
+	positiveIntFromString := MakeType(
+		"PositiveInt",
+		func(u any) either.Either[error, int] {
+			i, ok := u.(int)
+			if !ok || i <= 0 {
+				return either.Left[int](fmt.Errorf("not a positive integer"))
+			}
+			return either.Of[error](i)
+		},
+		func(s string) Decode[Context, int] {
+			return func(c Context) Validation[int] {
+				var n int
+				_, err := fmt.Sscanf(s, "%d", &n)
+				if err != nil {
+					return validation.FailureWithError[int](s, "expected integer string")(err)(c)
+				}
+				if n <= 0 {
+					return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](n, "must be positive")(c)
+				}
+				return validation.Success(n)
+			}
+		},
+		strconv.Itoa,
+	)
+
+	eitherCodec := Either(nonEmptyString, positiveIntFromString)
+
+	t.Run("accumulates errors from both branches when both fail", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Empty string will fail both validations
+		result := eitherCodec.Decode("")
+
+		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(result))
+
+		errors := either.MonadFold(result,
+			F.Identity[validation.Errors],
+			func(either.Either[string, int]) validation.Errors { return nil },
+		)
+
+		require.NotNil(t, errors)
+		// Should have errors from both string and int validation attempts
+		assert.NotEmpty(t, errors)
+	})
+}

v2/optics/codec/validate/monoid.go

@@ -122,3 +122,13 @@ func ApplicativeMonoid[I, A any](m Monoid[A]) Monoid[Validate[I, A]] {
 		m,
 	)
 }
+
+// func AlternativeMonoid[I, A any](m Monoid[A]) Monoid[Validate[I, A]] {
+// 	return monoid.AlternativeMonoid(
+// 		Of[I, A],
+// 		MonadMap[I, A, func(A) A],
+// 		MonadAp[A, I, A],
+// 		MonadAlt[I, A],
+// 		m,
+// 	)
+// }

v2/optics/codec/validate/types.go

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ package validate
 
 import (
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/endomorphism"
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/lazy"
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/monoid"
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/optics/codec/decode"
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/optics/codec/validation"
@@ -271,4 +272,6 @@ type (
 	//   lower := strings.ToLower       // Endomorphism[string]
 	//   normalize := compose(trim, lower)  // Endomorphism[string]
 	Endomorphism[A any] = endomorphism.Endomorphism[A]
+
+	Lazy[A any] = lazy.Lazy[A]
 )

v2/optics/codec/validate/validate.go

@@ -309,6 +309,225 @@ func Chain[I, A, B any](f Kleisli[I, A, B]) Operator[I, A, B] {
 	)
 }
 
+// ChainLeft sequences a computation on the failure (Left) channel of a validation.
+//
+// This function operates on the error path of validation, allowing you to transform,
+// enrich, or recover from validation failures. It's the dual of Chain - while Chain
+// operates on success values, ChainLeft operates on error values.
+//
+// # Key Behavior
+//
+// **Critical difference from standard Either operations**: This validation-specific
+// implementation **aggregates errors** using the Errors monoid. When the transformation
+// function returns a failure, both the original errors AND the new errors are combined,
+// ensuring comprehensive error reporting.
+//
+//  1. **Success Pass-Through**: If validation succeeds, the handler is never called and
+//     the success value passes through unchanged.
+//
+//  2. **Error Recovery**: The handler can recover from failures by returning a successful
+//     validation, converting Left to Right.
+//
+//  3. **Error Aggregation**: When the handler also returns a failure, both the original
+//     errors and the new errors are combined using the Errors monoid.
+//
+//  4. **Input Access**: The handler returns a Validate[I, A] function, giving it access
+//     to the original input value I for context-aware error handling.
+//
+// # Type Parameters
+//
+//   - I: The input type
+//   - A: The type of the validation result
+//
+// # Parameters
+//
+//   - f: A Kleisli arrow that takes Errors and returns a Validate[I, A]. This function
+//     is called only when validation fails, receiving the accumulated errors.
+//
+// # Returns
+//
+// An Operator[I, A, A] that transforms validators by handling their error cases.
+//
+// # Example: Error Recovery
+//
+//	// Validator that may fail
+//	validatePositive := func(n int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+//	    return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+//	        if n > 0 {
+//	            return validation.Success(n)
+//	        }
+//	        return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](n, "must be positive")(ctx)
+//	    }
+//	}
+//
+//	// Recover from specific errors with a default value
+//	withDefault := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validate[int, int] {
+//	    for _, err := range errs {
+//	        if err.Messsage == "must be positive" {
+//	            return Of[int](0) // recover with default
+//	        }
+//	    }
+//	    return func(input int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+//	        return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+//	            return either.Left[int](errs)
+//	        }
+//	    }
+//	})
+//
+//	validator := withDefault(validatePositive)
+//	result := validator(-5)(nil)
+//	// Result: Success(0) - recovered from failure
+//
+// # Example: Error Context Addition
+//
+//	// Add contextual information to errors
+//	addContext := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, int] {
+//	    return func(input string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+//	        return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+//	            return either.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+//	                {
+//	                    Context:  validation.Context{{Key: "user", Type: "User"}, {Key: "age", Type: "int"}},
+//	                    Messsage: "failed to validate user age",
+//	                },
+//	            })
+//	        }
+//	    }
+//	})
+//
+//	validator := addContext(someValidator)
+//	// Errors will include both original error and context
+//
+// # Example: Input-Dependent Recovery
+//
+//	// Recover with different defaults based on input
+//	smartDefault := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, int] {
+//	    return func(input string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+//	        return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+//	            // Use input to determine appropriate default
+//	            if strings.Contains(input, "http") {
+//	                return validation.Of(80)
+//	            }
+//	            if strings.Contains(input, "https") {
+//	                return validation.Of(443)
+//	            }
+//	            return validation.Of(8080)
+//	        }
+//	    }
+//	})
+//
+// # Notes
+//
+//   - Errors are accumulated, not replaced - this ensures no validation failures are lost
+//   - The handler has access to both the errors and the original input
+//   - Success values bypass the handler completely
+//   - This enables sophisticated error handling strategies including recovery, enrichment, and transformation
+//   - Use OrElse as a semantic alias when emphasizing fallback/alternative logic
+func ChainLeft[I, A any](f Kleisli[I, Errors, A]) Operator[I, A, A] {
+	return readert.Chain[Validate[I, A]](
+		decode.ChainLeft,
+		f,
+	)
+}
+
+// OrElse provides an alternative validation when the primary validation fails.
+//
+// This is a semantic alias for ChainLeft with identical behavior. The name "OrElse"
+// emphasizes the intent of providing fallback or alternative validation logic, making
+// code more readable when that's the primary use case.
+//
+// # Relationship to ChainLeft
+//
+// **OrElse and ChainLeft are functionally identical** - they produce exactly the same
+// results for all inputs. The choice between them is purely about code readability:
+//
+//   - Use **OrElse** when emphasizing fallback/alternative validation logic
+//   - Use **ChainLeft** when emphasizing technical error channel transformation
+//
+// Both maintain the critical property of **error aggregation**, ensuring all validation
+// failures are preserved and reported together.
+//
+// # Type Parameters
+//
+//   - I: The input type
+//   - A: The type of the validation result
+//
+// # Parameters
+//
+//   - f: A Kleisli arrow that takes Errors and returns a Validate[I, A]. This function
+//     is called only when validation fails, receiving the accumulated errors.
+//
+// # Returns
+//
+// An Operator[I, A, A] that transforms validators by providing alternative validation.
+//
+// # Example: Fallback Validation
+//
+//	// Primary validator that may fail
+//	validateFromConfig := func(key string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[string]] {
+//	    return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[string] {
+//	        // Try to get value from config
+//	        if value, ok := config[key]; ok {
+//	            return validation.Success(value)
+//	        }
+//	        return validation.FailureWithMessage[string](key, "not found in config")(ctx)
+//	    }
+//	}
+//
+//	// Use OrElse for semantic clarity - "try config, or else use environment"
+//	withEnvFallback := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, string] {
+//	    return func(key string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[string]] {
+//	        return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[string] {
+//	            if value := os.Getenv(key); value != "" {
+//	                return validation.Success(value)
+//	            }
+//	            return either.Left[string](errs) // propagate original errors
+//	        }
+//	    }
+//	})
+//
+//	validator := withEnvFallback(validateFromConfig)
+//	result := validator("DATABASE_URL")(nil)
+//	// Tries config first, falls back to environment variable
+//
+// # Example: Default Value on Failure
+//
+//	// Provide a default value when validation fails
+//	withDefault := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validate[int, int] {
+//	    return Of[int](0) // default to 0 on any failure
+//	})
+//
+//	validator := withDefault(someValidator)
+//	result := validator(input)(nil)
+//	// Always succeeds, using default value if validation fails
+//
+// # Example: Pipeline with Multiple Fallbacks
+//
+//	// Build a validation pipeline with multiple fallback strategies
+//	validator := F.Pipe2(
+//	    validateFromDatabase,
+//	    OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, Config] {
+//	        // Try cache as first fallback
+//	        return validateFromCache
+//	    }),
+//	    OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, Config] {
+//	        // Use default config as final fallback
+//	        return Of[string](defaultConfig)
+//	    }),
+//	)
+//	// Tries database, then cache, then default
+//
+// # Notes
+//
+//   - Identical behavior to ChainLeft - they are aliases
+//   - Errors are accumulated when transformations fail
+//   - Success values pass through unchanged
+//   - The handler has access to both errors and original input
+//   - Choose OrElse for better readability when providing alternatives
+//   - See ChainLeft documentation for detailed behavior and additional examples
+func OrElse[I, A any](f Kleisli[I, Errors, A]) Operator[I, A, A] {
+	return ChainLeft(f)
+}
+
 // MonadAp applies a validator containing a function to a validator containing a value.
 //
 // This is the applicative apply operation for Validate. It allows you to apply

v2/optics/codec/validate/validate_test.go

@@ -849,3 +849,428 @@ func TestFunctorLaws(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	})
 }
+
+// TestChainLeft tests the ChainLeft function
+func TestChainLeft(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("transforms failures while preserving successes", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create a failing validator
+		failingValidator := func(n int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+			return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+				return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](n, "validation failed")(ctx)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Handler that recovers from specific errors
+		handler := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validate[int, int] {
+			for _, err := range errs {
+				if err.Messsage == "validation failed" {
+					return Of[int](0) // recover with default
+				}
+			}
+			return func(input int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+				return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+					return E.Left[int](errs)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		validator := handler(failingValidator)
+		result := validator(-5)(nil)
+
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(0), result, "Should recover from failure")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("preserves success values unchanged", func(t *testing.T) {
+		successValidator := Of[int](42)
+
+		handler := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validate[int, int] {
+			return func(input int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+				return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+					return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](input, "should not be called")(ctx)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		validator := handler(successValidator)
+		result := validator(100)(nil)
+
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(42), result, "Success should pass through unchanged")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("aggregates errors when transformation also fails", func(t *testing.T) {
+		failingValidator := func(s string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[string]] {
+			return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[string] {
+				return validation.FailureWithMessage[string](s, "original error")(ctx)
+			}
+		}
+
+		handler := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, string] {
+			return func(input string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[string]] {
+				return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[string] {
+					return validation.FailureWithMessage[string](input, "additional error")(ctx)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		validator := handler(failingValidator)
+		result := validator("test")(nil)
+
+		assert.True(t, E.IsLeft(result))
+		_, errors := E.Unwrap(result)
+		assert.Len(t, errors, 2, "Should aggregate both errors")
+
+		messages := make([]string, len(errors))
+		for i, err := range errors {
+			messages[i] = err.Messsage
+		}
+		assert.Contains(t, messages, "original error")
+		assert.Contains(t, messages, "additional error")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("adds context to errors", func(t *testing.T) {
+		failingValidator := func(n int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+			return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+				return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](n, "invalid value")(ctx)
+			}
+		}
+
+		addContext := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validate[int, int] {
+			return func(input int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+				return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+					return E.Left[int](validation.Errors{
+						{
+							Context:  validation.Context{{Key: "user", Type: "User"}, {Key: "age", Type: "int"}},
+							Messsage: "failed to validate user age",
+						},
+					})
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		validator := addContext(failingValidator)
+		result := validator(150)(nil)
+
+		assert.True(t, E.IsLeft(result))
+		_, errors := E.Unwrap(result)
+		assert.Len(t, errors, 2, "Should have both original and context errors")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("can be composed in pipeline", func(t *testing.T) {
+		failingValidator := func(n int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+			return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+				return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](n, "error1")(ctx)
+			}
+		}
+
+		handler1 := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validate[int, int] {
+			return func(input int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+				return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+					return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](input, "error2")(ctx)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		handler2 := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validate[int, int] {
+			return func(input int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+				return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+					return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](input, "error3")(ctx)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		validator := handler2(handler1(failingValidator))
+		result := validator(42)(nil)
+
+		assert.True(t, E.IsLeft(result))
+		_, errors := E.Unwrap(result)
+		assert.GreaterOrEqual(t, len(errors), 2, "Should accumulate errors through pipeline")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("provides access to original input", func(t *testing.T) {
+		failingValidator := func(n int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+			return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+				return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](n, "failed")(ctx)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Handler uses input to determine recovery strategy
+		handler := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validate[int, int] {
+			return func(input int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+				return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+					// Use input value to decide on recovery
+					if input < 0 {
+						return validation.Of(0)
+					}
+					if input > 100 {
+						return validation.Of(100)
+					}
+					return E.Left[int](errs)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		validator := handler(failingValidator)
+
+		result1 := validator(-10)(nil)
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(0), result1, "Should recover negative to 0")
+
+		result2 := validator(150)(nil)
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(100), result2, "Should recover large to 100")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("works with different input and output types", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Validator that converts string to int
+		parseValidator := func(s string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+			return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+				return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](s, "parse failed")(ctx)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Handler that provides default based on input string
+		handler := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, int] {
+			return func(input string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+				return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+					if input == "default" {
+						return validation.Of(42)
+					}
+					return E.Left[int](errs)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		validator := handler(parseValidator)
+		result := validator("default")(nil)
+
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(42), result)
+	})
+}
+
+// TestOrElse tests the OrElse function
+func TestOrElse(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("provides fallback for failing validation", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Primary validator that fails
+		primaryValidator := func(s string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[string]] {
+			return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[string] {
+				return validation.FailureWithMessage[string](s, "not found")(ctx)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Use OrElse to provide fallback
+		withFallback := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, string] {
+			return Of[string]("default value")
+		})
+
+		validator := withFallback(primaryValidator)
+		result := validator("missing")(nil)
+
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of("default value"), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("preserves success values unchanged", func(t *testing.T) {
+		successValidator := Of[string]("success")
+
+		withFallback := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, string] {
+			return Of[string]("fallback")
+		})
+
+		validator := withFallback(successValidator)
+		result := validator("input")(nil)
+
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of("success"), result, "Should not use fallback for success")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("aggregates errors when fallback also fails", func(t *testing.T) {
+		failingValidator := func(n int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+			return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+				return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](n, "primary failed")(ctx)
+			}
+		}
+
+		withFallback := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validate[int, int] {
+			return func(input int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+				return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+					return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](input, "fallback failed")(ctx)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		validator := withFallback(failingValidator)
+		result := validator(42)(nil)
+
+		assert.True(t, E.IsLeft(result))
+		_, errors := E.Unwrap(result)
+		assert.Len(t, errors, 2, "Should aggregate both errors")
+
+		messages := make([]string, len(errors))
+		for i, err := range errors {
+			messages[i] = err.Messsage
+		}
+		assert.Contains(t, messages, "primary failed")
+		assert.Contains(t, messages, "fallback failed")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("supports multiple fallback strategies", func(t *testing.T) {
+		failingValidator := func(s string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[string]] {
+			return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[string] {
+				return validation.FailureWithMessage[string](s, "not in database")(ctx)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// First fallback: try cache
+		tryCache := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, string] {
+			return func(input string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[string]] {
+				return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[string] {
+					if input == "cached" {
+						return validation.Of("from cache")
+					}
+					return E.Left[string](errs)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		// Second fallback: use default
+		useDefault := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, string] {
+			return Of[string]("default")
+		})
+
+		// Compose fallbacks
+		validator := useDefault(tryCache(failingValidator))
+
+		// Test with cached value
+		result1 := validator("cached")(nil)
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of("from cache"), result1)
+
+		// Test with non-cached value (should use default)
+		result2 := validator("other")(nil)
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of("default"), result2)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("provides input-dependent fallback", func(t *testing.T) {
+		failingValidator := func(s string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+			return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+				return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](s, "parse failed")(ctx)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Fallback with different defaults based on input
+		smartFallback := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, int] {
+			return func(input string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+				return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+					// Provide context-aware defaults
+					if input == "http" {
+						return validation.Of(80)
+					}
+					if input == "https" {
+						return validation.Of(443)
+					}
+					return validation.Of(8080)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		validator := smartFallback(failingValidator)
+
+		result1 := validator("http")(nil)
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(80), result1)
+
+		result2 := validator("https")(nil)
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(443), result2)
+
+		result3 := validator("other")(nil)
+		assert.Equal(t, validation.Of(8080), result3)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("is equivalent to ChainLeft", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create identical handlers
+		handler := func(errs Errors) Validate[int, int] {
+			return func(input int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+				return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+					if input < 0 {
+						return validation.Of(0)
+					}
+					return E.Left[int](errs)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		failingValidator := func(n int) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[int]] {
+			return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[int] {
+				return validation.FailureWithMessage[int](n, "failed")(ctx)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Apply with ChainLeft
+		withChainLeft := ChainLeft(handler)(failingValidator)
+
+		// Apply with OrElse
+		withOrElse := OrElse(handler)(failingValidator)
+
+		// Test with same inputs
+		inputs := []int{-10, 0, 10, -5, 100}
+		for _, input := range inputs {
+			result1 := withChainLeft(input)(nil)
+			result2 := withOrElse(input)(nil)
+
+			// Results should be identical
+			assert.Equal(t, E.IsLeft(result1), E.IsLeft(result2))
+			if E.IsRight(result1) {
+				val1, _ := E.Unwrap(result1)
+				val2, _ := E.Unwrap(result2)
+				assert.Equal(t, val1, val2, "OrElse and ChainLeft should produce identical results")
+			}
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("works in complex validation pipeline", func(t *testing.T) {
+		type Config struct {
+			Port int
+			Host string
+		}
+
+		// Validator that tries to parse config
+		parseConfig := func(s string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[Config]] {
+			return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[Config] {
+				return validation.FailureWithMessage[Config](s, "invalid config")(ctx)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Fallback to environment variables
+		tryEnv := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, Config] {
+			return func(input string) Reader[validation.Context, validation.Validation[Config]] {
+				return func(ctx validation.Context) validation.Validation[Config] {
+					// Simulate env var lookup
+					if input == "from_env" {
+						return validation.Of(Config{Port: 8080, Host: "localhost"})
+					}
+					return E.Left[Config](errs)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+
+		// Final fallback to defaults
+		useDefaults := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validate[string, Config] {
+			return Of[string](Config{Port: 3000, Host: "0.0.0.0"})
+		})
+
+		// Build pipeline
+		validator := useDefaults(tryEnv(parseConfig))
+
+		// Test with env fallback
+		result1 := validator("from_env")(nil)
+		assert.True(t, E.IsRight(result1))
+		if E.IsRight(result1) {
+			cfg, _ := E.Unwrap(result1)
+			assert.Equal(t, 8080, cfg.Port)
+			assert.Equal(t, "localhost", cfg.Host)
+		}
+
+		// Test with default fallback
+		result2 := validator("other")(nil)
+		assert.True(t, E.IsRight(result2))
+		if E.IsRight(result2) {
+			cfg, _ := E.Unwrap(result2)
+			assert.Equal(t, 3000, cfg.Port)
+			assert.Equal(t, "0.0.0.0", cfg.Host)
+		}
+	})
+}

v2/optics/codec/validation/OrElse_explanation.md

@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+# OrElse is Equivalent to ChainLeft
+
+## Overview
+
+In [`optics/codec/validation/monad.go`](monad.go:474-476), the [`OrElse`](monad.go:474) function is defined as a simple alias for [`ChainLeft`](monad.go:304):
+
+```go
+//go:inline
+func OrElse[A any](f Kleisli[Errors, A]) Operator[A, A] {
+	return ChainLeft(f)
+}
+```
+
+This means **`OrElse` and `ChainLeft` are functionally identical** - they produce exactly the same results for all inputs.
+
+## Why Have Both?
+
+While they are technically the same, they serve different **semantic purposes**:
+
+### ChainLeft - Technical Perspective
+[`ChainLeft`](monad.go:304-309) emphasizes the **technical operation**: it chains a computation on the Left (failure) channel of the Either/Validation monad. This name comes from category theory and functional programming terminology.
+
+### OrElse - Semantic Perspective  
+[`OrElse`](monad.go:474-476) emphasizes the **intent**: it provides an alternative or fallback when validation fails. The name reads naturally in code: "try this validation, **or else** try this alternative."
+
+## Key Behavior
+
+Both functions share the same critical behavior that distinguishes them from standard Either operations:
+
+### Error Aggregation
+When the transformation function returns a failure, **both the original errors AND the new errors are combined** using the Errors monoid. This ensures no validation errors are lost.
+
+```go
+// Example: Error aggregation
+result := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validation[string] {
+    return Failures[string](Errors{
+        &ValidationError{Messsage: "additional error"},
+    })
+})(Failures[string](Errors{
+    &ValidationError{Messsage: "original error"},
+}))
+
+// Result contains BOTH errors: ["original error", "additional error"]
+```
+
+### Success Pass-Through
+Success values pass through unchanged - the function is never called:
+
+```go
+result := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validation[int] {
+    return Failures[int](Errors{
+        &ValidationError{Messsage: "never called"},
+    })
+})(Success(42))
+
+// Result: Success(42) - unchanged
+```
+
+### Error Recovery
+The function can recover from failures by returning a Success:
+
+```go
+recoverFromNotFound := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validation[int] {
+    for _, err := range errs {
+        if err.Messsage == "not found" {
+            return Success(0) // recover with default
+        }
+    }
+    return Failures[int](errs)
+})
+
+result := recoverFromNotFound(Failures[int](Errors{
+    &ValidationError{Messsage: "not found"},
+}))
+
+// Result: Success(0) - recovered from failure
+```
+
+## Use Cases
+
+### 1. Fallback Validation (OrElse reads better)
+```go
+validatePositive := func(x int) Validation[int] {
+    if x > 0 {
+        return Success(x)
+    }
+    return Failures[int](Errors{
+        &ValidationError{Messsage: "must be positive"},
+    })
+}
+
+// Use OrElse for semantic clarity
+withDefault := OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validation[int] {
+    return Success(1) // default to 1 if validation fails
+})
+
+result := F.Pipe1(validatePositive(-5), withDefault)
+// Result: Success(1)
+```
+
+### 2. Error Context Addition (ChainLeft reads better)
+```go
+addContext := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validation[string] {
+    return Failures[string](Errors{
+        &ValidationError{
+            Messsage: "validation failed in user.email field",
+        },
+    })
+})
+
+result := F.Pipe1(
+    Failures[string](Errors{
+        &ValidationError{Messsage: "invalid format"},
+    }),
+    addContext,
+)
+// Result contains: ["invalid format", "validation failed in user.email field"]
+```
+
+### 3. Pipeline Composition
+Both can be used in pipelines, with errors accumulating at each step:
+
+```go
+result := F.Pipe2(
+    Failures[int](Errors{
+        &ValidationError{Messsage: "database error"},
+    }),
+    OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validation[int] {
+        return Failures[int](Errors{
+            &ValidationError{Messsage: "context added"},
+        })
+    }),
+    OrElse(func(errs Errors) Validation[int] {
+        return Failures[int](errs) // propagate
+    }),
+)
+// Errors accumulate at each step in the pipeline
+```
+
+## Verification
+
+The test suite in [`monad_test.go`](monad_test.go:1698) includes comprehensive tests proving that `OrElse` and `ChainLeft` are equivalent:
+
+- ✅ Identical behavior for Success values
+- ✅ Identical behavior for error recovery
+- ✅ Identical behavior for error aggregation
+- ✅ Identical behavior in pipeline composition
+- ✅ Identical behavior for multiple error scenarios
+
+Run the tests:
+```bash
+go test -v -run TestOrElse ./optics/codec/validation
+```
+
+## Conclusion
+
+**`OrElse` is exactly the same as `ChainLeft`** - they are aliases with identical implementations and behavior. The choice between them is purely about **code readability and semantic intent**:
+
+- Use **`OrElse`** when emphasizing fallback/alternative validation logic
+- Use **`ChainLeft`** when emphasizing technical error channel transformation
+
+Both maintain the critical validation property of **error aggregation**, ensuring all validation failures are preserved and reported together.

v2/optics/codec/validation/bind_test.go

@@ -17,12 +17,7 @@ func TestDo(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		result := Do(State{})
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) State { return State{} },
-			F.Identity[State],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, State{}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(State{}), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("creates successful validation with initialized state", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -33,24 +28,19 @@ func TestDo(t *testing.T) {
 		initial := State{x: 42, y: "hello"}
 		result := Do(initial)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) State { return State{} },
-			F.Identity[State],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, initial, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(initial), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("works with different types", func(t *testing.T) {
 		intResult := Do(0)
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(intResult))
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(0), intResult)
 
 		strResult := Do("")
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(strResult))
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(""), strResult)
 
 		type Custom struct{ Value int }
 		customResult := Do(Custom{Value: 100})
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(customResult))
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(Custom{Value: 100}), customResult)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -71,12 +61,7 @@ func TestBind(t *testing.T) {
 			}, func(s State) Validation[int] { return Success(10) }),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) State { return State{} },
-			F.Identity[State],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, State{x: 42, y: 10}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(State{x: 42, y: 10}), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("propagates failure", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -115,12 +100,7 @@ func TestBind(t *testing.T) {
 			}),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) State { return State{} },
-			F.Identity[State],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, State{x: 10, y: 20}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Success(State{x: 10, y: 20}), result)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -138,12 +118,7 @@ func TestLet(t *testing.T) {
 			}, func(s State) int { return s.x * 2 }),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) State { return State{} },
-			F.Identity[State],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, State{x: 5, computed: 10}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(State{x: 5, computed: 10}), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("preserves failure", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -180,12 +155,7 @@ func TestLet(t *testing.T) {
 			}, func(s State) int { return s.z * 3 }),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) State { return State{} },
-			F.Identity[State],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, State{x: 60, y: 10, z: 20}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(State{x: 60, y: 10, z: 20}), result)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -203,12 +173,7 @@ func TestLetTo(t *testing.T) {
 			}, "example"),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) State { return State{} },
-			F.Identity[State],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, State{x: 5, name: "example"}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(State{x: 5, name: "example"}), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("preserves failure", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -239,12 +204,7 @@ func TestLetTo(t *testing.T) {
 			}, true),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) State { return State{} },
-			F.Identity[State],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, State{name: "app", version: 2, active: true}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(State{name: "app", version: 2, active: true}), result)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -259,12 +219,7 @@ func TestBindTo(t *testing.T) {
 			BindTo(func(x int) State { return State{value: x} }),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) State { return State{} },
-			F.Identity[State],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, State{value: 42}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(State{value: 42}), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("preserves failure", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -289,12 +244,7 @@ func TestBindTo(t *testing.T) {
 			BindTo(func(s string) StringState { return StringState{text: s} }),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) StringState { return StringState{} },
-			F.Identity[StringState],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, StringState{text: "hello"}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(StringState{text: "hello"}), result)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -312,12 +262,7 @@ func TestApS(t *testing.T) {
 			}, Success(42)),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) State { return State{} },
-			F.Identity[State],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, State{x: 42}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(State{x: 42}), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("accumulates errors from both validations", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -350,12 +295,7 @@ func TestApS(t *testing.T) {
 			}, Success(20)),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) State { return State{} },
-			F.Identity[State],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, State{x: 10, y: 20}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(State{x: 10, y: 20}), result)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -384,14 +324,11 @@ func TestApSL(t *testing.T) {
 			),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) Person { return Person{} },
-			F.Identity[Person],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, "Alice", value.Name)
-		assert.Equal(t, "Main St", value.Address.Street)
-		assert.Equal(t, "NYC", value.Address.City)
+		expected := Person{
+			Name:    "Alice",
+			Address: Address{Street: "Main St", City: "NYC"},
+		}
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(expected), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("accumulates errors", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -434,12 +371,7 @@ func TestBindL(t *testing.T) {
 			BindL(valueLens, increment),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) Counter { return Counter{} },
-			F.Identity[Counter],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, Counter{Value: 43}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(Counter{Value: 43}), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("fails validation based on current value", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -494,12 +426,7 @@ func TestLetL(t *testing.T) {
 			LetL(valueLens, double),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) Counter { return Counter{} },
-			F.Identity[Counter],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, Counter{Value: 42}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(Counter{Value: 42}), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("preserves failure", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -521,12 +448,7 @@ func TestLetL(t *testing.T) {
 			LetL(valueLens, double),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) Counter { return Counter{} },
-			F.Identity[Counter],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, Counter{Value: 30}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(Counter{Value: 30}), result)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -547,12 +469,7 @@ func TestLetToL(t *testing.T) {
 			LetToL(debugLens, false),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) Config { return Config{} },
-			F.Identity[Config],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, Config{Debug: false, Timeout: 30}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(Config{Debug: false, Timeout: 30}), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("preserves failure", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -574,12 +491,7 @@ func TestLetToL(t *testing.T) {
 			LetToL(timeoutLens, 60),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) Config { return Config{} },
-			F.Identity[Config],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, Config{Debug: false, Timeout: 60}, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(Config{Debug: false, Timeout: 60}), result)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -622,13 +534,7 @@ func TestBindOperationsComposition(t *testing.T) {
 			}),
 		)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) User { return User{} },
-			F.Identity[User],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, "Alice", value.Name)
-		assert.Equal(t, 25, value.Age)
-		assert.Equal(t, "Alice@example.com", value.Email)
+		expected := User{Name: "Alice", Age: 25, Email: "Alice@example.com"}
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(expected), result)
 	})
 }

v2/optics/codec/validation/monad.go

@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 package validation
 
 import (
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/array"
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/either"
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/function"
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/internal/applicative"
 )
 
+var errorsMonoid = ErrorsMonoid()
+
 // Of creates a successful validation result containing the given value.
 // This is the pure/return operation for the Validation monad.
 //
@@ -28,37 +32,376 @@ func Of[A any](a A) Validation[A] {
 //		return func(age int) User { return User{name, age} }
 //	}))(validateName))(validateAge)
 func Ap[B, A any](fa Validation[A]) Operator[func(A) B, B] {
-	return either.ApV[B, A](ErrorsMonoid())(fa)
+	return either.ApV[B, A](errorsMonoid)(fa)
 }
 
+// MonadAp applies a validation containing a function to a validation containing a value.
+// This is the applicative apply operation that **accumulates errors** from both validations.
+//
+// **Key behavior**: Unlike Either's MonadAp which fails fast (returns first error),
+// this validation-specific implementation **accumulates all errors** using the Errors monoid.
+// When both the function validation and value validation fail, all errors from both are combined.
+//
+// This error accumulation is the defining characteristic of the Validation applicative,
+// making it ideal for scenarios where you want to collect all validation failures at once
+// rather than stopping at the first error.
+//
+// Behavior:
+//   - Both succeed: applies the function to the value → Success(result)
+//   - Function fails, value succeeds: returns function's errors → Failure(func errors)
+//   - Function succeeds, value fails: returns value's errors → Failure(value errors)
+//   - Both fail: **combines all errors** → Failure(func errors + value errors)
+//
+// This is particularly useful for:
+//   - Form validation: collect all field errors at once
+//   - Configuration validation: report all invalid settings together
+//   - Data validation: accumulate all constraint violations
+//   - Multi-field validation: validate independent fields in parallel
+//
+// Example - Both succeed:
+//
+//	double := func(x int) int { return x * 2 }
+//	result := MonadAp(Of(double), Of(21))
+//	// Result: Success(42)
+//
+// Example - Error accumulation (key feature):
+//
+//	funcValidation := Failures[func(int) int](Errors{
+//	    &ValidationError{Messsage: "function error"},
+//	})
+//	valueValidation := Failures[int](Errors{
+//	    &ValidationError{Messsage: "value error"},
+//	})
+//	result := MonadAp(funcValidation, valueValidation)
+//	// Result: Failure with BOTH errors: ["function error", "value error"]
+//
+// Example - Validating multiple fields:
+//
+//	type User struct {
+//	    Name string
+//	    Age  int
+//	}
+//
+//	makeUser := func(name string) func(int) User {
+//	    return func(age int) User { return User{name, age} }
+//	}
+//
+//	nameValidation := validateName("ab")  // Fails: too short
+//	ageValidation := validateAge(16)      // Fails: too young
+//
+//	// First apply name
+//	step1 := MonadAp(Of(makeUser), nameValidation)
+//	// Then apply age
+//	result := MonadAp(step1, ageValidation)
+//	// Result contains ALL validation errors from both fields
 func MonadAp[B, A any](fab Validation[func(A) B], fa Validation[A]) Validation[B] {
-	return either.MonadApV[B, A](ErrorsMonoid())(fab, fa)
+	return either.MonadApV[B, A](errorsMonoid)(fab, fa)
 }
 
 // Map transforms the value inside a successful validation using the provided function.
 // If the validation is a failure, the errors are preserved unchanged.
 // This is the functor map operation for Validation.
 //
-// Example:
+// Map is used for transforming successful values without changing the validation context.
+// It's the most basic operation for working with validated values and forms the foundation
+// for more complex validation pipelines.
+//
+// Behavior:
+//   - Success: applies function to value → Success(f(value))
+//   - Failure: preserves errors unchanged → Failure(same errors)
+//
+// This is useful for:
+//   - Type transformations: converting validated values to different types
+//   - Value transformations: normalizing, formatting, or computing derived values
+//   - Pipeline composition: chaining multiple transformations
+//   - Preserving validation context: errors pass through unchanged
+//
+// Example - Transform successful value:
 //
 //	doubled := Map(func(x int) int { return x * 2 })(Of(21))
 //	// Result: Success(42)
+//
+// Example - Failure preserved:
+//
+//	result := Map(func(x int) int { return x * 2 })(
+//	    Failures[int](Errors{&ValidationError{Messsage: "invalid"}}),
+//	)
+//	// Result: Failure with same error: ["invalid"]
+//
+// Example - Type transformation:
+//
+//	toString := Map(func(x int) string { return fmt.Sprintf("%d", x) })
+//	result := toString(Of(42))
+//	// Result: Success("42")
+//
+// Example - Chaining transformations:
+//
+//	result := F.Pipe3(
+//	    Of(5),
+//	    Map(func(x int) int { return x + 10 }),  // 15
+//	    Map(func(x int) int { return x * 2 }),   // 30
+//	    Map(func(x int) string { return fmt.Sprintf("%d", x) }),  // "30"
+//	)
+//	// Result: Success("30")
 func Map[A, B any](f func(A) B) Operator[A, B] {
 	return either.Map[Errors](f)
 }
 
+// MonadMap transforms the value inside a successful validation using the provided function.
+// If the validation is a failure, the errors are preserved unchanged.
+// This is the non-curried version of [Map].
+//
+// MonadMap is useful when you have both the validation and the transformation function
+// available at the same time, rather than needing to create a reusable operator.
+//
+// Behavior:
+//   - Success: applies function to value → Success(f(value))
+//   - Failure: preserves errors unchanged → Failure(same errors)
+//
+// Example - Transform successful value:
+//
+//	result := MonadMap(Of(21), func(x int) int { return x * 2 })
+//	// Result: Success(42)
+//
+// Example - Failure preserved:
+//
+//	result := MonadMap(
+//	    Failures[int](Errors{&ValidationError{Messsage: "invalid"}}),
+//	    func(x int) int { return x * 2 },
+//	)
+//	// Result: Failure with same error: ["invalid"]
+//
+// Example - Type transformation:
+//
+//	result := MonadMap(Of(42), func(x int) string {
+//	    return fmt.Sprintf("Value: %d", x)
+//	})
+//	// Result: Success("Value: 42")
+//
+// Example - Computing derived values:
+//
+//	type User struct { FirstName, LastName string }
+//	result := MonadMap(
+//	    Of(User{"John", "Doe"}),
+//	    func(u User) string { return u.FirstName + " " + u.LastName },
+//	)
+//	// Result: Success("John Doe")
 func MonadMap[A, B any](fa Validation[A], f func(A) B) Validation[B] {
 	return either.MonadMap(fa, f)
 }
 
+// Chain is the curried version of [MonadChain].
+// Sequences two validation computations where the second depends on the first.
+//
+// Example:
+//
+//	validatePositive := func(x int) Validation[int] {
+//	    if x > 0 { return Success(x) }
+//	    return Failure("must be positive")
+//	}
+//	result := Chain(validatePositive)(Success(42)) // Success(42)
 func Chain[A, B any](f Kleisli[A, B]) Operator[A, B] {
 	return either.Chain(f)
 }
 
+// MonadChain sequences two validation computations where the second depends on the first.
+// If the first validation fails, returns the failure without executing the second.
+// This is the monadic bind operation for Validation.
+//
+// Example:
+//
+//	result := MonadChain(
+//	    Success(42),
+//	    func(x int) Validation[string] {
+//	        return Success(fmt.Sprintf("Value: %d", x))
+//	    },
+//	) // Success("Value: 42")
 func MonadChain[A, B any](fa Validation[A], f Kleisli[A, B]) Validation[B] {
 	return either.MonadChain(fa, f)
 }
 
+// chainErrors is an internal helper that chains error transformations while accumulating errors.
+// When the transformation function f returns a failure, it concatenates the original errors (e1)
+// with the new errors (e2) using the Errors monoid, ensuring all validation errors are preserved.
+func chainErrors[A any](f Kleisli[Errors, A]) func(Errors) Validation[A] {
+	return func(e1 Errors) Validation[A] {
+		return either.MonadFold(
+			f(e1),
+			function.Flow2(array.Concat(e1), either.Left[A]),
+			Of[A],
+		)
+	}
+}
+
+// ChainLeft is the curried version of [MonadChainLeft].
+// Returns a function that transforms validation failures while preserving successes.
+//
+// Unlike the standard Either ChainLeft which replaces errors, this validation-specific
+// implementation **aggregates errors** using the Errors monoid. When the transformation
+// function returns a failure, both the original errors and the new errors are combined,
+// ensuring no validation errors are lost.
+//
+// This is particularly useful for:
+//   - Error recovery with fallback validation
+//   - Adding contextual information to existing errors
+//   - Transforming error types while preserving all error details
+//   - Building error handling pipelines that accumulate failures
+//
+// Key behavior:
+//   - Success values pass through unchanged
+//   - When transforming failures, if the transformation also fails, **all errors are aggregated**
+//   - If the transformation succeeds, it recovers from the original failure
+//
+// Example - Error recovery with aggregation:
+//
+//	recoverFromNotFound := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validation[int] {
+//	    // Check if this is a "not found" error
+//	    for _, err := range errs {
+//	        if err.Messsage == "not found" {
+//	            return Success(0) // recover with default
+//	        }
+//	    }
+//	    // Add context to existing errors
+//	    return Failures[int](Errors{
+//	        &ValidationError{Messsage: "recovery failed"},
+//	    })
+//	    // Result will contain BOTH original errors AND "recovery failed"
+//	})
+//
+//	result := recoverFromNotFound(Failures[int](Errors{
+//	    &ValidationError{Messsage: "database error"},
+//	}))
+//	// Result contains: ["database error", "recovery failed"]
+//
+// Example - Adding context to errors:
+//
+//	addContext := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validation[string] {
+//	    // Add contextual information
+//	    return Failures[string](Errors{
+//	        &ValidationError{
+//	            Messsage: "validation failed in user.email field",
+//	        },
+//	    })
+//	    // Original errors are preserved and new context is added
+//	})
+//
+//	result := F.Pipe1(
+//	    Failures[string](Errors{
+//	        &ValidationError{Messsage: "invalid format"},
+//	    }),
+//	    addContext,
+//	)
+//	// Result contains: ["invalid format", "validation failed in user.email field"]
+//
+// Example - Success values pass through:
+//
+//	handler := ChainLeft(func(errs Errors) Validation[int] {
+//	    return Failures[int](Errors{
+//	        &ValidationError{Messsage: "never called"},
+//	    })
+//	})
+//	result := handler(Success(42)) // Success(42) - unchanged
+func ChainLeft[A any](f Kleisli[Errors, A]) Operator[A, A] {
+	return either.Fold(
+		chainErrors(f),
+		Of[A],
+	)
+}
+
+// MonadChainLeft sequences a computation on the failure (Left) channel of a Validation.
+// If the Validation is a failure, applies the function to transform or recover from the errors.
+// If the Validation is a success, returns the success value unchanged.
+//
+// **Critical difference from Either.MonadChainLeft**: This validation-specific implementation
+// **aggregates errors** using the Errors monoid. When the transformation function returns a
+// failure, both the original errors and the new errors are combined, ensuring comprehensive
+// error reporting.
+//
+// This is the dual of [MonadChain] - while Chain operates on success values, ChainLeft
+// operates on failure values. It's particularly useful for:
+//   - Error recovery: converting specific errors into successful values
+//   - Error enrichment: adding context or transforming error messages
+//   - Fallback logic: providing alternative validations when the first fails
+//   - Error aggregation: combining multiple validation failures
+//
+// The function parameter receives the collection of validation errors and must return
+// a new Validation[A]. This allows you to:
+//   - Recover by returning Success(value)
+//   - Transform errors by returning Failures(newErrors) - **original errors are preserved**
+//   - Implement conditional error handling based on error content
+//
+// Example - Error recovery:
+//
+//	result := MonadChainLeft(
+//	    Failures[int](Errors{
+//	        &ValidationError{Messsage: "not found"},
+//	    }),
+//	    func(errs Errors) Validation[int] {
+//	        // Check if we can recover
+//	        for _, err := range errs {
+//	            if err.Messsage == "not found" {
+//	                return Success(0) // recover with default value
+//	            }
+//	        }
+//	        return Failures[int](errs) // propagate errors
+//	    },
+//	) // Success(0)
+//
+// Example - Error aggregation (key feature):
+//
+//	result := MonadChainLeft(
+//	    Failures[string](Errors{
+//	        &ValidationError{Messsage: "error 1"},
+//	        &ValidationError{Messsage: "error 2"},
+//	    }),
+//	    func(errs Errors) Validation[string] {
+//	        // Transformation also fails
+//	        return Failures[string](Errors{
+//	            &ValidationError{Messsage: "error 3"},
+//	        })
+//	    },
+//	)
+//	// Result contains ALL errors: ["error 1", "error 2", "error 3"]
+//	// This is different from Either.MonadChainLeft which would only keep "error 3"
+//
+// Example - Adding context to errors:
+//
+//	result := MonadChainLeft(
+//	    Failures[int](Errors{
+//	        &ValidationError{Value: "abc", Messsage: "invalid number"},
+//	    }),
+//	    func(errs Errors) Validation[int] {
+//	        // Add contextual information
+//	        contextErrors := Errors{
+//	            &ValidationError{
+//	                Context:  []ContextEntry{{Key: "user", Type: "User"}, {Key: "age", Type: "int"}},
+//	                Messsage: "failed to parse user age",
+//	            },
+//	        }
+//	        return Failures[int](contextErrors)
+//	    },
+//	)
+//	// Result contains both original error and context:
+//	// ["invalid number", "failed to parse user age"]
+//
+// Example - Success values pass through:
+//
+//	result := MonadChainLeft(
+//	    Success(42),
+//	    func(errs Errors) Validation[int] {
+//	        return Failures[int](Errors{
+//	            &ValidationError{Messsage: "never called"},
+//	        })
+//	    },
+//	) // Success(42) - unchanged
+func MonadChainLeft[A any](fa Validation[A], f Kleisli[Errors, A]) Validation[A] {
+	return either.MonadFold(
+		fa,
+		chainErrors(f),
+		Of[A],
+	)
+}
+
 // Applicative creates an Applicative instance for Validation with error accumulation.
 //
 // This returns a lawful Applicative that accumulates validation errors using the Errors monoid.
@@ -123,6 +466,175 @@ func MonadChain[A, B any](fa Validation[A], f Kleisli[A, B]) Validation[B] {
 //	An Applicative instance with Of, Map, and Ap operations that accumulate errors
 func Applicative[A, B any]() applicative.Applicative[A, B, Validation[A], Validation[B], Validation[func(A) B]] {
 	return either.ApplicativeV[Errors, A, B](
-		ErrorsMonoid(),
+		errorsMonoid,
 	)
 }
+
+//go:inline
+func OrElse[A any](f Kleisli[Errors, A]) Operator[A, A] {
+	return ChainLeft(f)
+}
+
+// MonadAlt implements the Alternative operation for Validation, providing fallback behavior.
+// If the first validation fails, it evaluates and returns the second validation as an alternative.
+// If the first validation succeeds, it returns the first validation without evaluating the second.
+//
+// This is the fundamental operation for the Alt typeclass, enabling "try first, fallback to second"
+// semantics. It's particularly useful for:
+//   - Providing default values when validation fails
+//   - Trying multiple validation strategies in sequence
+//   - Building validation pipelines with fallback logic
+//   - Implementing optional validation with defaults
+//
+// **Key behavior**: Unlike error accumulation in [MonadAp], MonadAlt does NOT accumulate errors.
+// When falling back to the second validation, the first validation's errors are discarded.
+// This is the standard Alt behavior - it's about choosing alternatives, not combining errors.
+//
+// The second parameter is lazy (Lazy[Validation[A]]) to avoid unnecessary computation when
+// the first validation succeeds. The second validation is only evaluated if needed.
+//
+// Behavior:
+//   - First succeeds: returns first validation (second is not evaluated)
+//   - First fails: evaluates and returns second validation (first errors discarded)
+//
+// This is useful for:
+//   - Fallback values: provide defaults when primary validation fails
+//   - Alternative strategies: try different validation approaches
+//   - Optional validation: make validation optional with a default
+//   - Chaining attempts: try multiple sources until one succeeds
+//
+// Type Parameters:
+//   - A: The type of the successful value
+//
+// Parameters:
+//   - first: The primary validation to try
+//   - second: A lazy computation producing the fallback validation (only evaluated if first fails)
+//
+// Returns:
+//
+//	The first validation if it succeeds, otherwise the second validation
+//
+// Example - Fallback to default:
+//
+//	primary := parseConfig("config.json")  // Fails
+//	fallback := func() Validation[Config] {
+//	    return Success(defaultConfig)
+//	}
+//	result := MonadAlt(primary, fallback)
+//	// Result: Success(defaultConfig)
+//
+// Example - First succeeds (second not evaluated):
+//
+//	primary := Success(42)
+//	fallback := func() Validation[int] {
+//	    panic("never called") // This won't execute
+//	}
+//	result := MonadAlt(primary, fallback)
+//	// Result: Success(42)
+//
+// Example - Chaining multiple alternatives:
+//
+//	result := MonadAlt(
+//	    parseFromEnv("API_KEY"),
+//	    func() Validation[string] {
+//	        return MonadAlt(
+//	            parseFromFile(".env"),
+//	            func() Validation[string] {
+//	                return Success("default-key")
+//	            },
+//	        )
+//	    },
+//	)
+//	// Tries: env var → file → default (uses first that succeeds)
+//
+// Example - No error accumulation:
+//
+//	v1 := Failures[int](Errors{
+//	    &ValidationError{Messsage: "error 1"},
+//	    &ValidationError{Messsage: "error 2"},
+//	})
+//	v2 := func() Validation[int] {
+//	    return Failures[int](Errors{
+//	        &ValidationError{Messsage: "error 3"},
+//	    })
+//	}
+//	result := MonadAlt(v1, v2)
+//	// Result: Failures with only ["error 3"]
+//	// The errors from v1 are discarded (not accumulated)
+func MonadAlt[A any](first Validation[A], second Lazy[Validation[A]]) Validation[A] {
+	return MonadChainLeft(first, function.Ignore1of1[Errors](second))
+}
+
+// Alt is the curried version of [MonadAlt].
+// Returns a function that provides fallback behavior for a Validation.
+//
+// This is useful for creating reusable fallback operators that can be applied
+// to multiple validations, or for use in function composition pipelines.
+//
+// The returned function takes a validation and returns either that validation
+// (if successful) or the provided alternative (if the validation fails).
+//
+// Type Parameters:
+//   - A: The type of the successful value
+//
+// Parameters:
+//   - second: A lazy computation producing the fallback validation
+//
+// Returns:
+//
+//	A function that takes a Validation[A] and returns a Validation[A] with fallback behavior
+//
+// Example - Creating a reusable fallback operator:
+//
+//	withDefault := Alt(func() Validation[int] {
+//	    return Success(0)
+//	})
+//
+//	result1 := withDefault(parseNumber("42"))    // Success(42)
+//	result2 := withDefault(parseNumber("abc"))   // Success(0) - fallback
+//	result3 := withDefault(parseNumber("123"))   // Success(123)
+//
+// Example - Using in a pipeline:
+//
+//	import F "github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/function"
+//
+//	result := F.Pipe2(
+//	    parseFromEnv("CONFIG_PATH"),
+//	    Alt(func() Validation[string] {
+//	        return parseFromFile("config.json")
+//	    }),
+//	    Alt(func() Validation[string] {
+//	        return Success("./default-config.json")
+//	    }),
+//	)
+//	// Tries: env var → file → default path
+//
+// Example - Combining with Map:
+//
+//	import F "github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/function"
+//
+//	result := F.Pipe2(
+//	    validatePositive(-5),  // Fails
+//	    Alt(func() Validation[int] { return Success(1) }),
+//	    Map(func(x int) int { return x * 2 }),
+//	)
+//	// Result: Success(2) - uses fallback value 1, then doubles it
+//
+// Example - Multiple fallback layers:
+//
+//	primaryFallback := Alt(func() Validation[Config] {
+//	    return loadFromFile("backup.json")
+//	})
+//	secondaryFallback := Alt(func() Validation[Config] {
+//	    return Success(defaultConfig)
+//	})
+//
+//	result := F.Pipe2(
+//	    loadFromFile("config.json"),
+//	    primaryFallback,
+//	    secondaryFallback,
+//	)
+//	// Tries: config.json → backup.json → default
+func Alt[A any](second Lazy[Validation[A]]) Operator[A, A] {
+	return ChainLeft(function.Ignore1of1[Errors](second))
+}

v2/optics/codec/validation/monoid.go

@@ -52,3 +52,177 @@ func ApplicativeMonoid[A any](m Monoid[A]) Monoid[Validation[A]] {
 		m,
 	)
 }
+
+// AlternativeMonoid creates a Monoid instance for Validation[A] using the Alternative pattern.
+// This combines the applicative error-accumulation behavior with the alternative fallback behavior,
+// allowing you to both accumulate errors and provide fallback alternatives.
+//
+// The Alternative pattern provides two key operations:
+//   - Applicative operations (Of, Map, Ap): accumulate errors when combining validations
+//   - Alternative operation (Alt): provide fallback when a validation fails
+//
+// This monoid is particularly useful when you want to:
+//   - Try multiple validation strategies and fall back to alternatives
+//   - Combine successful values using the provided monoid
+//   - Accumulate all errors from failed attempts
+//   - Build validation pipelines with fallback logic
+//
+// The resulting monoid:
+//   - Empty: Returns a successful validation with the empty value from the inner monoid
+//   - Concat: Combines two validations using both applicative and alternative semantics:
+//   - If first succeeds and second succeeds: combines values using inner monoid
+//   - If first fails: tries second as fallback (alternative behavior)
+//   - If both fail: accumulates all errors
+//
+// Type Parameters:
+//   - A: The type of the successful value
+//
+// Parameters:
+//   - m: The monoid for combining successful values of type A
+//
+// Returns:
+//
+//	A Monoid[Validation[A]] that combines applicative and alternative behaviors
+//
+// Example - Combining successful validations:
+//
+//	import "github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/string"
+//
+//	m := AlternativeMonoid(string.Monoid)
+//	v1 := Success("Hello")
+//	v2 := Success(" World")
+//	result := m.Concat(v1, v2)
+//	// Result: Success("Hello World")
+//
+// Example - Fallback behavior:
+//
+//	m := AlternativeMonoid(string.Monoid)
+//	v1 := Failures[string](Errors{&ValidationError{Messsage: "first failed"}})
+//	v2 := Success("fallback value")
+//	result := m.Concat(v1, v2)
+//	// Result: Success("fallback value") - second validation used as fallback
+//
+// Example - Error accumulation when both fail:
+//
+//	m := AlternativeMonoid(string.Monoid)
+//	v1 := Failures[string](Errors{&ValidationError{Messsage: "error 1"}})
+//	v2 := Failures[string](Errors{&ValidationError{Messsage: "error 2"}})
+//	result := m.Concat(v1, v2)
+//	// Result: Failures with accumulated errors: ["error 1", "error 2"]
+//
+// Example - Building validation with fallbacks:
+//
+//	import N "github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/number"
+//
+//	m := AlternativeMonoid(N.MonoidSum[int]())
+//
+//	// Try to parse from different sources
+//	fromEnv := parseFromEnv()      // Fails
+//	fromConfig := parseFromConfig() // Succeeds with 42
+//	fromDefault := Success(0)       // Default fallback
+//
+//	result := m.Concat(m.Concat(fromEnv, fromConfig), fromDefault)
+//	// Result: Success(42) - uses first successful validation
+func AlternativeMonoid[A any](m Monoid[A]) Monoid[Validation[A]] {
+	return M.AlternativeMonoid(
+		Of[A],
+		MonadMap[A, func(A) A],
+		MonadAp[A, A],
+		MonadAlt[A],
+		m,
+	)
+}
+
+// AltMonoid creates a Monoid instance for Validation[A] using the Alt (alternative) operation.
+// This monoid provides a way to combine validations with fallback behavior, where the second
+// validation is used as an alternative if the first one fails.
+//
+// The Alt operation implements the "try first, fallback to second" pattern, which is useful
+// for validation scenarios where you want to attempt multiple validation strategies in sequence
+// and use the first one that succeeds.
+//
+// The resulting monoid:
+//   - Empty: Returns the provided zero value (a lazy computation that produces a Validation[A])
+//   - Concat: Combines two validations using Alt semantics:
+//   - If first succeeds: returns the first validation (ignores second)
+//   - If first fails: returns the second validation as fallback
+//
+// This is different from [AlternativeMonoid] in that:
+//   - AltMonoid uses a custom zero value (provided by the user)
+//   - AlternativeMonoid derives the zero from an inner monoid
+//   - AltMonoid is simpler and only provides fallback behavior
+//   - AlternativeMonoid combines applicative and alternative behaviors
+//
+// Type Parameters:
+//   - A: The type of the successful value
+//
+// Parameters:
+//   - zero: A lazy computation that produces the identity/empty Validation[A].
+//     This is typically a successful validation with a default value, or could be
+//     a failure representing "no validation attempted"
+//
+// Returns:
+//
+//	A Monoid[Validation[A]] that combines validations with fallback behavior
+//
+// Example - Using default value as zero:
+//
+//	m := AltMonoid(func() Validation[int] { return Success(0) })
+//
+//	v1 := Failures[int](Errors{&ValidationError{Messsage: "failed"}})
+//	v2 := Success(42)
+//
+//	result := m.Concat(v1, v2)
+//	// Result: Success(42) - falls back to second validation
+//
+//	empty := m.Empty()
+//	// Result: Success(0) - the provided zero value
+//
+// Example - Chaining multiple fallbacks:
+//
+//	m := AltMonoid(func() Validation[string] {
+//	    return Success("default")
+//	})
+//
+//	primary := parseFromPrimarySource()   // Fails
+//	secondary := parseFromSecondary()     // Fails
+//	tertiary := parseFromTertiary()       // Succeeds with "value"
+//
+//	result := m.Concat(m.Concat(primary, secondary), tertiary)
+//	// Result: Success("value") - uses first successful validation
+//
+// Example - All validations fail:
+//
+//	m := AltMonoid(func() Validation[int] {
+//	    return Failures[int](Errors{&ValidationError{Messsage: "no default"}})
+//	})
+//
+//	v1 := Failures[int](Errors{&ValidationError{Messsage: "error 1"}})
+//	v2 := Failures[int](Errors{&ValidationError{Messsage: "error 2"}})
+//
+//	result := m.Concat(v1, v2)
+//	// Result: Failures with errors from v2: ["error 2"]
+//	// Note: Unlike AlternativeMonoid, errors are NOT accumulated
+//
+// Example - Building a validation pipeline with fallbacks:
+//
+//	m := AltMonoid(func() Validation[Config] {
+//	    return Success(defaultConfig)
+//	})
+//
+//	// Try multiple configuration sources in order
+//	configs := []Validation[Config]{
+//	    loadFromFile("config.json"),      // Try file first
+//	    loadFromEnv(),                     // Then environment
+//	    loadFromRemote("api.example.com"), // Then remote API
+//	}
+//
+//	// Fold using the monoid to get first successful config
+//	result := A.MonoidFold(m)(configs)
+//	// Result: First successful config, or defaultConfig if all fail
+func AltMonoid[A any](zero Lazy[Validation[A]]) Monoid[Validation[A]] {
+	return M.AltMonoid(
+		zero,
+		MonadAlt[A],
+	)
+}

v2/optics/codec/validation/monoid_test.go

@@ -74,12 +74,7 @@ func TestApplicativeMonoid(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run("empty returns successful validation with empty string", func(t *testing.T) {
 			empty := m.Empty()
 
-			assert.True(t, either.IsRight(empty))
-			value := either.MonadFold(empty,
-				func(Errors) string { return "ERROR" },
-				F.Identity[string],
-			)
-			assert.Equal(t, "", value)
+			assert.Equal(t, Success(""), empty)
 		})
 
 		t.Run("concat combines successful validations", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -88,12 +83,7 @@ func TestApplicativeMonoid(t *testing.T) {
 
 			result := m.Concat(v1, v2)
 
-			assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-			value := either.MonadFold(result,
-				func(Errors) string { return "" },
-				F.Identity[string],
-			)
-			assert.Equal(t, "Hello World", value)
+			assert.Equal(t, Success("Hello World"), result)
 		})
 
 		t.Run("concat with failure returns failure", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -141,17 +131,8 @@ func TestApplicativeMonoid(t *testing.T) {
 			result1 := m.Concat(v, empty)
 			result2 := m.Concat(empty, v)
 
-			val1 := either.MonadFold(result1,
-				func(Errors) string { return "" },
-				F.Identity[string],
-			)
-			val2 := either.MonadFold(result2,
-				func(Errors) string { return "" },
-				F.Identity[string],
-			)
-
-			assert.Equal(t, "test", val1)
-			assert.Equal(t, "test", val2)
+			assert.Equal(t, Of("test"), result1)
+			assert.Equal(t, Of("test"), result2)
 		})
 	})
 
@@ -166,11 +147,7 @@ func TestApplicativeMonoid(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run("empty returns zero", func(t *testing.T) {
 			empty := m.Empty()
 
-			value := either.MonadFold(empty,
-				func(Errors) int { return -1 },
-				F.Identity[int],
-			)
-			assert.Equal(t, 0, value)
+			assert.Equal(t, Of(0), empty)
 		})
 
 		t.Run("concat adds values", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -179,11 +156,7 @@ func TestApplicativeMonoid(t *testing.T) {
 
 			result := m.Concat(v1, v2)
 
-			value := either.MonadFold(result,
-				func(Errors) int { return 0 },
-				F.Identity[int],
-			)
-			assert.Equal(t, 42, value)
+			assert.Equal(t, Of(42), result)
 		})
 
 		t.Run("multiple concat operations", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -194,11 +167,7 @@ func TestApplicativeMonoid(t *testing.T) {
 
 			result := m.Concat(m.Concat(m.Concat(v1, v2), v3), v4)
 
-			value := either.MonadFold(result,
-				func(Errors) int { return 0 },
-				F.Identity[int],
-			)
-			assert.Equal(t, 10, value)
+			assert.Equal(t, Of(10), result)
 		})
 	})
 }
@@ -245,21 +214,13 @@ func TestMonoidLaws(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run("left identity", func(t *testing.T) {
 			// empty + a = a
 			result := m.Concat(m.Empty(), v1)
-			value := either.MonadFold(result,
-				func(Errors) string { return "" },
-				F.Identity[string],
-			)
-			assert.Equal(t, "a", value)
+			assert.Equal(t, Of("a"), result)
 		})
 
 		t.Run("right identity", func(t *testing.T) {
 			// a + empty = a
 			result := m.Concat(v1, m.Empty())
-			value := either.MonadFold(result,
-				func(Errors) string { return "" },
-				F.Identity[string],
-			)
-			assert.Equal(t, "a", value)
+			assert.Equal(t, Of("a"), result)
 		})
 
 		t.Run("associativity", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -268,17 +229,8 @@ func TestMonoidLaws(t *testing.T) {
 			left := m.Concat(m.Concat(v1, v2), v3)
 			right := m.Concat(v1, m.Concat(v2, v3))
 
-			leftVal := either.MonadFold(left,
-				func(Errors) string { return "" },
-				F.Identity[string],
-			)
-			rightVal := either.MonadFold(right,
-				func(Errors) string { return "" },
-				F.Identity[string],
-			)
-
-			assert.Equal(t, "abc", leftVal)
-			assert.Equal(t, "abc", rightVal)
+			assert.Equal(t, Of("abc"), left)
+			assert.Equal(t, Of("abc"), right)
 		})
 	})
 }
@@ -332,11 +284,7 @@ func TestApplicativeMonoidEdgeCases(t *testing.T) {
 
 		result := m.Concat(v1, v2)
 
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) Counter { return Counter{} },
-			F.Identity[Counter],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, 15, value.Count)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(Counter{Count: 15}), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("empty concat empty", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -344,10 +292,6 @@ func TestApplicativeMonoidEdgeCases(t *testing.T) {
 
 		result := m.Concat(m.Empty(), m.Empty())
 
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) string { return "ERROR" },
-			F.Identity[string],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, "", value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(""), result)
 	})
 }

v2/optics/codec/validation/types.go

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package validation
 import (
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/either"
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/endomorphism"
+	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/lazy"
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/monoid"
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/reader"
 	"github.com/IBM/fp-go/v2/result"
@@ -257,4 +258,6 @@ type (
 	//	double := func(x int) int { return x * 2 }  // Endomorphism[int]
 	//	result := LetL(lens, double)(Success(21))   // Success(42)
 	Endomorphism[A any] = endomorphism.Endomorphism[A]
+
+	Lazy[A any] = lazy.Lazy[A]
 )

v2/optics/codec/validation/validation_test.go

@@ -186,12 +186,7 @@ func TestSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("creates right either with value", func(t *testing.T) {
 		result := Success(42)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(Errors) int { return 0 },
-			F.Identity[int],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, 42, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, Success(42), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("works with different types", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -327,7 +322,7 @@ func TestValidationIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 			&ValidationError{Value: "bad", Messsage: "error"},
 		})
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(success))
+		assert.Equal(t, Success(42), success)
 		assert.True(t, either.IsLeft(failure))
 	})
 
@@ -512,12 +507,7 @@ func TestToResult(t *testing.T) {
 
 		result := ToResult(validation)
 
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(result))
-		value := either.MonadFold(result,
-			func(error) int { return 0 },
-			F.Identity[int],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, 42, value)
+		assert.Equal(t, either.Of[error](42), result)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("converts failed validation to result with error", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -569,23 +559,18 @@ func TestToResult(t *testing.T) {
 		// String type
 		strValidation := Success("hello")
 		strResult := ToResult(strValidation)
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(strResult))
+		assert.Equal(t, either.Of[error]("hello"), strResult)
 
 		// Bool type
 		boolValidation := Success(true)
 		boolResult := ToResult(boolValidation)
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(boolResult))
+		assert.Equal(t, either.Of[error](true), boolResult)
 
 		// Struct type
 		type User struct{ Name string }
 		userValidation := Success(User{Name: "Alice"})
 		userResult := ToResult(userValidation)
-		assert.True(t, either.IsRight(userResult))
-		user := either.MonadFold(userResult,
-			func(error) User { return User{} },
-			F.Identity[User],
-		)
-		assert.Equal(t, "Alice", user.Name)
+		assert.Equal(t, either.Of[error](User{Name: "Alice"}), userResult)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("preserves error context in result", func(t *testing.T) {

v2/readerioeither/reader.go

@@ -1104,6 +1104,8 @@ func After[R, E, A any](timestamp time.Time) Operator[R, E, A, A] {
 // If the ReaderIOEither is Left, it applies the provided function to the error value,
 // which returns a new ReaderIOEither that replaces the original.
 //
+// Note: OrElse is identical to [ChainLeft] - both provide the same functionality for error recovery.
+//
 // This is useful for error recovery, fallback logic, or chaining alternative IO computations
 // that need access to configuration or dependencies. The error type can be widened from E1 to E2.
 //

v2/readerioeither/reader_test.go

@@ -531,3 +531,205 @@ func TestReadIO(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, E.Right[error](25), result)
 	})
 }
+
+// TestChainLeftIdenticalToOrElse proves that ChainLeft and OrElse are identical functions.
+// This test verifies that both functions produce the same results for all scenarios with reader context:
+// - Left values with error recovery using reader context
+// - Left values with error transformation
+// - Right values passing through unchanged
+// - Error type widening
+func TestChainLeftIdenticalToOrElse(t *testing.T) {
+	type Config struct {
+		fallbackValue int
+		retryEnabled  bool
+	}
+
+	// Test 1: Left value with error recovery using reader context
+	t.Run("Left value recovery with reader - ChainLeft equals OrElse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		recoveryFn := func(e string) ReaderIOEither[Config, string, int] {
+			if e == "recoverable" {
+				return func(cfg Config) IOE.IOEither[string, int] {
+					return IOE.Right[string](cfg.fallbackValue)
+				}
+			}
+			return Left[Config, int](e)
+		}
+
+		input := Left[Config, int]("recoverable")
+		cfg := Config{fallbackValue: 42, retryEnabled: true}
+
+		// Using ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := ChainLeft(recoveryFn)(input)(cfg)()
+
+		// Using OrElse
+		resultOrElse := OrElse(recoveryFn)(input)(cfg)()
+
+		// Both should produce identical results
+		assert.Equal(t, resultOrElse, resultChainLeft)
+		assert.Equal(t, E.Right[string](42), resultChainLeft)
+	})
+
+	// Test 2: Left value with error transformation
+	t.Run("Left value transformation - ChainLeft equals OrElse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		transformFn := func(e string) ReaderIOEither[Config, string, int] {
+			return Left[Config, int]("transformed: " + e)
+		}
+
+		input := Left[Config, int]("original error")
+		cfg := Config{fallbackValue: 0, retryEnabled: false}
+
+		// Using ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := ChainLeft(transformFn)(input)(cfg)()
+
+		// Using OrElse
+		resultOrElse := OrElse(transformFn)(input)(cfg)()
+
+		// Both should produce identical results
+		assert.Equal(t, resultOrElse, resultChainLeft)
+		assert.Equal(t, E.Left[int]("transformed: original error"), resultChainLeft)
+	})
+
+	// Test 3: Right value - both should pass through unchanged
+	t.Run("Right value passthrough - ChainLeft equals OrElse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		handlerFn := func(e string) ReaderIOEither[Config, string, int] {
+			return Left[Config, int]("should not be called")
+		}
+
+		input := Right[Config, string](100)
+		cfg := Config{fallbackValue: 0, retryEnabled: false}
+
+		// Using ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := ChainLeft(handlerFn)(input)(cfg)()
+
+		// Using OrElse
+		resultOrElse := OrElse(handlerFn)(input)(cfg)()
+
+		// Both should produce identical results
+		assert.Equal(t, resultOrElse, resultChainLeft)
+		assert.Equal(t, E.Right[string](100), resultChainLeft)
+	})
+
+	// Test 4: Error type widening
+	t.Run("Error type widening - ChainLeft equals OrElse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		widenFn := func(e string) ReaderIOEither[Config, int, int] {
+			return Left[Config, int](404)
+		}
+
+		input := Left[Config, int]("not found")
+		cfg := Config{fallbackValue: 0, retryEnabled: false}
+
+		// Using ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := ChainLeft(widenFn)(input)(cfg)()
+
+		// Using OrElse
+		resultOrElse := OrElse(widenFn)(input)(cfg)()
+
+		// Both should produce identical results
+		assert.Equal(t, resultOrElse, resultChainLeft)
+		assert.Equal(t, E.Left[int](404), resultChainLeft)
+	})
+
+	// Test 5: Composition in pipeline with reader context
+	t.Run("Pipeline composition with reader - ChainLeft equals OrElse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		recoveryFn := func(e string) ReaderIOEither[Config, string, int] {
+			if e == "network error" {
+				return func(cfg Config) IOE.IOEither[string, int] {
+					if cfg.retryEnabled {
+						return IOE.Right[string](cfg.fallbackValue)
+					}
+					return IOE.Left[int]("retry disabled")
+				}
+			}
+			return Left[Config, int](e)
+		}
+
+		input := Left[Config, int]("network error")
+		cfg := Config{fallbackValue: 99, retryEnabled: true}
+
+		// Using ChainLeft in pipeline
+		resultChainLeft := F.Pipe1(input, ChainLeft(recoveryFn))(cfg)()
+
+		// Using OrElse in pipeline
+		resultOrElse := F.Pipe1(input, OrElse(recoveryFn))(cfg)()
+
+		// Both should produce identical results
+		assert.Equal(t, resultOrElse, resultChainLeft)
+		assert.Equal(t, E.Right[string](99), resultChainLeft)
+	})
+
+	// Test 6: Multiple chained operations with reader context
+	t.Run("Multiple operations with reader - ChainLeft equals OrElse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		handler1 := func(e string) ReaderIOEither[Config, string, int] {
+			if e == "error1" {
+				return Right[Config, string](1)
+			}
+			return Left[Config, int](e)
+		}
+
+		handler2 := func(e string) ReaderIOEither[Config, string, int] {
+			if e == "error2" {
+				return func(cfg Config) IOE.IOEither[string, int] {
+					return IOE.Right[string](cfg.fallbackValue)
+				}
+			}
+			return Left[Config, int](e)
+		}
+
+		input := Left[Config, int]("error2")
+		cfg := Config{fallbackValue: 2, retryEnabled: false}
+
+		// Using ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := F.Pipe2(
+			input,
+			ChainLeft(handler1),
+			ChainLeft(handler2),
+		)(cfg)()
+
+		// Using OrElse
+		resultOrElse := F.Pipe2(
+			input,
+			OrElse(handler1),
+			OrElse(handler2),
+		)(cfg)()
+
+		// Both should produce identical results
+		assert.Equal(t, resultOrElse, resultChainLeft)
+		assert.Equal(t, E.Right[string](2), resultChainLeft)
+	})
+
+	// Test 7: Reader context is properly threaded through both functions
+	t.Run("Reader context threading - ChainLeft equals OrElse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		var chainLeftCfg, orElseCfg *Config
+
+		recoveryFn := func(e string) ReaderIOEither[Config, string, int] {
+			return func(cfg Config) IOE.IOEither[string, int] {
+				// Capture the config to verify it's passed correctly
+				if chainLeftCfg == nil {
+					chainLeftCfg = &cfg
+				} else {
+					orElseCfg = &cfg
+				}
+				return IOE.Right[string](cfg.fallbackValue)
+			}
+		}
+
+		input := Left[Config, int]("error")
+		cfg := Config{fallbackValue: 123, retryEnabled: true}
+
+		// Using ChainLeft
+		resultChainLeft := ChainLeft(recoveryFn)(input)(cfg)()
+
+		// Using OrElse
+		resultOrElse := OrElse(recoveryFn)(input)(cfg)()
+
+		// Both should produce identical results
+		assert.Equal(t, resultOrElse, resultChainLeft)
+		assert.Equal(t, E.Right[string](123), resultChainLeft)
+
+		// Verify both received the same config
+		assert.NotNil(t, chainLeftCfg)
+		assert.NotNil(t, orElseCfg)
+		assert.Equal(t, *chainLeftCfg, *orElseCfg)
+		assert.Equal(t, cfg, *chainLeftCfg)
+	})
+}

v2/result/either.go

@@ -475,6 +475,8 @@ func Alt[A any](that Lazy[Result[A]]) Operator[A, A] {
 // If the Result is Left, it applies the provided function to the error value,
 // which returns a new Result that replaces the original.
 //
+// Note: OrElse is identical to [ChainLeft] - both provide the same functionality for error recovery.
+//
 // This is useful for error recovery, fallback logic, or chaining alternative computations.
 //
 // Example:
@@ -656,3 +658,118 @@ func InstanceOf[A any](a any) Result[A] {
 	}
 	return Left[A](fmt.Errorf("expected %T, got %T", res, a))
 }
+
+// MonadChainLeft sequences a computation on the Left (error) channel.
+// If the Result is Left, applies the function to transform or recover from the error.
+// If the Result is Right, returns the Right value unchanged.
+//
+// This is the dual of [MonadChain] - while Chain operates on Right values,
+// ChainLeft operates on Left (error) values. It's particularly useful for:
+//   - Error recovery: converting specific errors into successful values
+//   - Error transformation: changing error types or adding context
+//   - Fallback logic: providing alternative computations when errors occur
+//
+// Note: MonadChainLeft is identical to [OrElse] - both provide the same functionality for error recovery.
+//
+// The function parameter receives the error value and must return a new Result[A].
+// This allows you to:
+//   - Recover by returning Right[error](value)
+//   - Transform the error by returning Left[A](newError)
+//   - Implement conditional error handling based on error content
+//
+// Example - Error recovery:
+//
+//	result := result.MonadChainLeft(
+//	    result.Left[int](errors.New("not found")),
+//	    func(err error) result.Result[int] {
+//	        if err.Error() == "not found" {
+//	            return result.Right(0) // recover with default value
+//	        }
+//	        return result.Left[int](err) // propagate other errors
+//	    },
+//	) // Right(0)
+//
+// Example - Error type transformation:
+//
+//	result := result.MonadChainLeft(
+//	    result.Left[string](errors.New("database error")),
+//	    func(err error) result.Result[string] {
+//	        return result.Left[string](fmt.Errorf("wrapped: %w", err))
+//	    },
+//	) // Left(wrapped error)
+//
+// Example - Right values pass through:
+//
+//	result := result.MonadChainLeft(
+//	    result.Right(42),
+//	    func(err error) result.Result[int] {
+//	        return result.Right(0) // never called
+//	    },
+//	) // Right(42) - unchanged
+//
+//go:inline
+func MonadChainLeft[A any](fa Result[A], f Kleisli[error, A]) Result[A] {
+	return either.MonadChainLeft(fa, f)
+}
+
+// ChainLeft is the curried version of [MonadChainLeft].
+// Returns a function that transforms Left (error) values while preserving Right values.
+//
+// Note: ChainLeft is identical to [OrElse] - both provide the same functionality for error recovery.
+//
+// This curried form is particularly useful in functional pipelines and for creating
+// reusable error handlers that can be composed with other operations.
+//
+// The returned function can be used with [F.Pipe1], [F.Pipe2], etc., to build
+// complex error handling pipelines in a point-free style.
+//
+// Example - Creating reusable error handlers:
+//
+//	// Handler that recovers from "not found" errors
+//	recoverNotFound := result.ChainLeft(func(err error) result.Result[int] {
+//	    if err.Error() == "not found" {
+//	        return result.Right(0)
+//	    }
+//	    return result.Left[int](err)
+//	})
+//
+//	result1 := recoverNotFound(result.Left[int](errors.New("not found"))) // Right(0)
+//	result2 := recoverNotFound(result.Right(42)) // Right(42)
+//
+// Example - Using in pipelines:
+//
+//	result := F.Pipe2(
+//	    result.Left[int](errors.New("timeout")),
+//	    result.ChainLeft(func(err error) result.Result[int] {
+//	        if err.Error() == "timeout" {
+//	            return result.Right(999) // fallback value
+//	        }
+//	        return result.Left[int](err)
+//	    }),
+//	    result.Map(func(n int) string {
+//	        return fmt.Sprintf("Value: %d", n)
+//	    }),
+//	) // Right("Value: 999")
+//
+// Example - Composing multiple error handlers:
+//
+//	// First handler: convert error to string
+//	toStringError := result.ChainLeft(func(err error) result.Result[int] {
+//	    return result.Left[int](errors.New(err.Error()))
+//	})
+//
+//	// Second handler: add prefix
+//	addPrefix := result.ChainLeft(func(err error) result.Result[int] {
+//	    return result.Left[int](fmt.Errorf("Error: %w", err))
+//	})
+//
+//	result := F.Pipe2(
+//	    result.Left[int](errors.New("failed")),
+//	    toStringError,
+//	    addPrefix,
+//	) // Left(Error: failed)
+//
+//go:inline
+func ChainLeft[A any](f Kleisli[error, A]) Operator[A, A] {
+	return either.ChainLeft(f)
+}

v2/result/either_test.go

@@ -356,3 +356,296 @@ func TestInstanceOf(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, 2, v["b"])
 	})
 }
+
+// TestMonadChainLeft tests the MonadChainLeft function with various scenarios
+func TestMonadChainLeft(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("Left value is transformed by function", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Transform error to success
+		result := MonadChainLeft(
+			Left[int](errors.New("not found")),
+			func(err error) Result[int] {
+				if err.Error() == "not found" {
+					return Right(0) // default value
+				}
+				return Left[int](err)
+			},
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(0), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Left value error is transformed", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Transform error with additional context
+		result := MonadChainLeft(
+			Left[int](errors.New("database error")),
+			func(err error) Result[int] {
+				return Left[int](fmt.Errorf("wrapped: %w", err))
+			},
+		)
+		assert.True(t, IsLeft(result))
+		_, err := UnwrapError(result)
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "wrapped:")
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "database error")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Right value passes through unchanged", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Right value should not be affected
+		result := MonadChainLeft(
+			Right(42),
+			func(err error) Result[int] {
+				return Left[int](errors.New("should not be called"))
+			},
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(42), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Chain multiple error transformations", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// First transformation
+		step1 := MonadChainLeft(
+			Left[int](errors.New("error1")),
+			func(err error) Result[int] {
+				return Left[int](errors.New("error2"))
+			},
+		)
+		// Second transformation
+		step2 := MonadChainLeft(
+			step1,
+			func(err error) Result[int] {
+				return Left[int](fmt.Errorf("final: %s", err.Error()))
+			},
+		)
+		assert.True(t, IsLeft(step2))
+		_, err := UnwrapError(step2)
+		assert.Equal(t, "final: error2", err.Error())
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Error recovery with fallback", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Recover from specific errors
+		result := MonadChainLeft(
+			Left[int](errors.New("timeout")),
+			func(err error) Result[int] {
+				if err.Error() == "timeout" {
+					return Right(999) // fallback value
+				}
+				return Left[int](err)
+			},
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(999), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Conditional error handling", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Handle different error types differently
+		handleError := func(err error) Result[string] {
+			switch err.Error() {
+			case "not found":
+				return Right("default")
+			case "timeout":
+				return Right("retry")
+			default:
+				return Left[string](err)
+			}
+		}
+
+		result1 := MonadChainLeft(Left[string](errors.New("not found")), handleError)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of("default"), result1)
+
+		result2 := MonadChainLeft(Left[string](errors.New("timeout")), handleError)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of("retry"), result2)
+
+		result3 := MonadChainLeft(Left[string](errors.New("other")), handleError)
+		assert.True(t, IsLeft(result3))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Type preservation", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Ensure type is preserved through transformation
+		result := MonadChainLeft(
+			Left[string](errors.New("error")),
+			func(err error) Result[string] {
+				return Right("recovered")
+			},
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of("recovered"), result)
+	})
+}
+
+// TestChainLeft tests the curried ChainLeft function
+func TestChainLeft(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("Curried function transforms Left value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create a reusable error handler
+		handleNotFound := ChainLeft(func(err error) Result[int] {
+			if err.Error() == "not found" {
+				return Right(0)
+			}
+			return Left[int](err)
+		})
+
+		result := handleNotFound(Left[int](errors.New("not found")))
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(0), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Curried function with Right value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		handler := ChainLeft(func(err error) Result[int] {
+			return Left[int](errors.New("should not be called"))
+		})
+
+		result := handler(Right(42))
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(42), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Use in pipeline with Pipe", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create error transformer
+		wrapError := ChainLeft(func(err error) Result[string] {
+			return Left[string](fmt.Errorf("Error: %w", err))
+		})
+
+		result := F.Pipe1(
+			Left[string](errors.New("failed")),
+			wrapError,
+		)
+		assert.True(t, IsLeft(result))
+		_, err := UnwrapError(result)
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "Error:")
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "failed")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Compose multiple ChainLeft operations", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// First handler: convert error to string representation
+		handler1 := ChainLeft(func(err error) Result[int] {
+			return Left[int](errors.New(err.Error()))
+		})
+
+		// Second handler: add prefix to error
+		handler2 := ChainLeft(func(err error) Result[int] {
+			return Left[int](fmt.Errorf("Handled: %w", err))
+		})
+
+		result := F.Pipe2(
+			Left[int](errors.New("original")),
+			handler1,
+			handler2,
+		)
+		assert.True(t, IsLeft(result))
+		_, err := UnwrapError(result)
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "Handled:")
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "original")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Error recovery in pipeline", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Handler that recovers from specific errors
+		recoverFromTimeout := ChainLeft(func(err error) Result[int] {
+			if err.Error() == "timeout" {
+				return Right(0) // recovered value
+			}
+			return Left[int](err) // propagate other errors
+		})
+
+		// Test with timeout error
+		result1 := F.Pipe1(
+			Left[int](errors.New("timeout")),
+			recoverFromTimeout,
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(0), result1)
+
+		// Test with other error
+		result2 := F.Pipe1(
+			Left[int](errors.New("other error")),
+			recoverFromTimeout,
+		)
+		assert.True(t, IsLeft(result2))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("ChainLeft with Map combination", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Combine ChainLeft with Map to handle both channels
+		errorHandler := ChainLeft(func(err error) Result[int] {
+			return Left[int](fmt.Errorf("Error: %w", err))
+		})
+
+		valueMapper := Map(func(n int) string {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("Value: %d", n)
+		})
+
+		// Test with Left
+		result1 := F.Pipe2(
+			Left[int](errors.New("fail")),
+			errorHandler,
+			valueMapper,
+		)
+		assert.True(t, IsLeft(result1))
+
+		// Test with Right
+		result2 := F.Pipe2(
+			Right(42),
+			errorHandler,
+			valueMapper,
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of("Value: 42"), result2)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Reusable error handlers", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Create a library of reusable error handlers
+		recoverNotFound := ChainLeft(func(err error) Result[string] {
+			if err.Error() == "not found" {
+				return Right("default")
+			}
+			return Left[string](err)
+		})
+
+		recoverTimeout := ChainLeft(func(err error) Result[string] {
+			if err.Error() == "timeout" {
+				return Right("retry")
+			}
+			return Left[string](err)
+		})
+
+		// Apply handlers in sequence
+		result := F.Pipe2(
+			Left[string](errors.New("not found")),
+			recoverNotFound,
+			recoverTimeout,
+		)
+		assert.Equal(t, Of("default"), result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Error transformation pipeline", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Build a pipeline that transforms errors step by step
+		addContext := ChainLeft(func(err error) Result[int] {
+			return Left[int](fmt.Errorf("context: %w", err))
+		})
+
+		addTimestamp := ChainLeft(func(err error) Result[int] {
+			return Left[int](fmt.Errorf("[2024-01-01] %w", err))
+		})
+
+		result := F.Pipe2(
+			Left[int](errors.New("base error")),
+			addContext,
+			addTimestamp,
+		)
+		assert.True(t, IsLeft(result))
+		_, err := UnwrapError(result)
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "[2024-01-01]")
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "context:")
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "base error")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Conditional recovery based on error content", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Recover from errors matching specific patterns
+		smartRecover := ChainLeft(func(err error) Result[int] {
+			msg := err.Error()
+			if msg == "not found" {
+				return Right(0)
+			}
+			if msg == "timeout" {
+				return Right(-1)
+			}
+			if msg == "unauthorized" {
+				return Right(-2)
+			}
+			return Left[int](err)
+		})
+
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(0), smartRecover(Left[int](errors.New("not found"))))
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(-1), smartRecover(Left[int](errors.New("timeout"))))
+		assert.Equal(t, Of(-2), smartRecover(Left[int](errors.New("unauthorized"))))
+		assert.True(t, IsLeft(smartRecover(Left[int](errors.New("unknown")))))
+	})
+}