jquery validation plugin - strange required behaviour

jquery validation plugin - strange required behaviour

Hi Team, I have a form with several optional input fields.

I would like them to be validated IF they have a value. In my rules I define code as follows:

                        row: {
                                required: {
                                        depends: function(element) {
                                                if ($("#row").val() != '') {
                                                        return true;
                                                } else {
                                                        return false;
                                                }
                                        }
                                },
                                pattern: /^[0-9]*$/
                        },
 
This appears to be fine whilst I enter data, but when the form is submitted all the input boxes have a green tick appended even if the field has no value. Should I expect this or have I missed something obvious or even subte in my depends conditions?

Thx Paul