I am using javascript regex to test a string. It should fail the text string but somehow its passing it. Any clue, what is wrong with this code?
<script>
var format = "^[a-zA-Z\.\-' ]*[a-zA-Z]+[a-zA-Z\.\-' ]*";
var testingValue = "FN306716";
var regex = new RegExp(format);
if (regex.test(testingValue) == false) {
alert('validation failed');
}
else {
alert('validation passed');
}
</script>
Just guessing that you are missing $ at the end of your regex to test full string.
var regex = /^[a-zA-Z\.\-' ]*[a-zA-Z]+[a-zA-Z\.\-' ]$/;
With this regex, your input wouldn't pass, because it contains numbers.
EDIT: I have updated it to use regex literal as pointed out in comments.
RegExp, either write /^[a-zA-Z\.\-' ]*[a-zA-Z]+[a-zA-Z\.\-' ]$/ to get a RegExp directly or escape the \ because the string is another layer to the way to the RegExp otherwise you have a range .-' which is not valid.new RegExp is not required there. The /something/i is a shortcut for new RegExp("something","i"). I don't want to say that writing it that way is wrong, just want to note that it is not required.
RegExp - it's by itself. When you use RegExp, you put the regex in a string, and you have to escape all backslashesYou're missing $ (end of input anchor):
Regex should be:
var format = "^[a-zA-Z.' -]*[a-zA-Z]+[a-zA-Z.' -]*$";
Also remember that - need not be escaped when used at fist and last position in character class and dot . also need not be escaped inside character class.
.to'(.-') is not valid, which results in an error.-could be put at the end, but to me it's more readable if it's escaped (no matter where it is). As for the.- I can't see a reason why you'd need to escape it, but I think jslint complains if you don't (just saying)