How to validate white spaces/empty spaces? [Angular 2]

I think a simple and clean solution is to use pattern validation.

The following pattern will allow a string that starts with white spaces and will not allow a string containing only white spaces:

/^(\s+\S+\s*)*(?!\s).*$/

It can be set when adding the validators for the corresponding control of the form group:

const form = this.formBuilder.group({
            name: ['', [
                Validators.required,
                Validators.pattern(/^(\s+\S+\s*)*(?!\s).*$/)
            ]]
        });

Maybe this article can help you http://blog.angular-university.io/introduction-to-angular-2-forms-template-driven-vs-model-driven/

In this approach, you have to use FormControl then watch for value changes and then apply your mask to the value. An example should be:

...
form: FormGroup;
...


ngOnInit(){
    this.form.valueChanges
            .map((value) => {
                // Here you can manipulate your value
                value.firstName = value.firstName.trim();
                return value;
            })
            .filter((value) => this.form.valid)
            .subscribe((value) => {
               console.log("Model Driven Form valid value: vm = ",JSON.stringify(value));
            });

}

You can create a custom validator to handle this.

new FormControl(field.fieldValue || '', [Validators.required, this.noWhitespaceValidator])

Add noWhitespaceValidator method to your component

public noWhitespaceValidator(control: FormControl) {
    const isWhitespace = (control.value || '').trim().length === 0;
    const isValid = !isWhitespace;
    return isValid ? null : { 'whitespace': true };
}

and in the HTML

<div *ngIf="yourForm.hasError('whitespace')">Please enter valid data</div>