Abide from version 5.5.2 does not validate hidden fields. However, that also means that the validation does not work for fields in inactive tabs.
Sample code could be:
<form data-abide>
<ul class="tabs" data-tab>
<li class="tab-title active"><a href="#panel1">Tab Name</a></li>
<li class="tab-title"><a href="#panel2">Tab Email</a></li>
</ul>
<div class="tabs-content">
<div class="content active" id="panel1">
<div class="name-field">
<label>Your name <small>required</small>
<input type="text" required pattern="[a-zA-Z]+">
</label>
<small class="error">Name is required and must be a string.</small>
</div>
</div>
<div class="content" id="panel2">
<div class="email-field">
<label>Email <small>required</small>
<input type="email" required>
</label>
<small class="error">An email address is required.</small>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<button type="submit">Submit</button>
</form>
<script>
$(document).foundation();
</script>
Live here: http://jsfiddle.net/1ukfgwqt/ (don't click the second tab before clicking Submit).
Is there a way, other than downgrading to 5.5.1 or manually editing Foundation's JS files, to reenable validation for hidden fields or fix validation for inactive tabs (until the issue I reported is fixed)?
I have the same issue. my solution was to have a callback on the tabs and reflows abide like this :