URL validation using Javascript

Question

I'm trying to use regex to validate user entered URLs. I came up with this regex:

function is_valid_url(url)
{
     return url.match(/^(ht|f)tps?:\/\/[a-z0-9-\.]+\.[a-z]{2,4}\/?([^\s<>\#%"\,\{\}\\|\\\^\[\]`]+)?$/);
}

It works fine for most of the simple URLs. However, when I tried to enter this URL from Google Maps:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Brooklyn%2C+NY&daddr=Stewart+Ave&hl=en&geocode=FRBFbAId0JyX-ykJIXyUFkTCiTGGeAAEdFx2gg%3BFcAqbQIdgPuX-w&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=12&sll=40.65%2C-73.95&sspn=0.182857%2C0.308647&g=Brooklyn%2C+New+York%2C+NY%2C+United+States&ie=UTF8&z=12

Then the function returns false, even though this URL is correct.

I know using regex for URL validation is controversial as there's no perfect solution for it, but I want to know if you have any regex that works better than mine, and can return true for that kind of URL.

What makes you believe all TLDs have 2-4 characters? Also, your regex doesn't support subdomains - so even a www. in the URL would break it — ThiefMaster
– ThiefMaster, Commented May 18, 2011 at 12:06
@ThiefMaster: I feel sorry for .museum, it never gets any love from URL regexes. — Andy E
– Andy E, Commented May 18, 2011 at 12:08
Have a look at parseUri 1.2: Split URLs in JavaScript this should give you a good library to handle validation. — Nick Weaver
– Nick Weaver, Commented May 18, 2011 at 12:08
Look at the complete regular expression for url validation. internet.ls-la.net/folklore/url-regexpr.html — Satish
– Satish, Commented May 18, 2011 at 12:08

Gary Green · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-18 12:09:49Z

1

Easiest option: use a regex that works.

(((http|ftp|https):\/\/)|www\.)[\w\-_]+(\.[\w\-_]+)+([\w\-\.,@?^=%&amp;:/~\+#!]*[\w\-\@?^=%&amp;/~\+#])?

Regexr: http://regexr.com?2tpo8

answered May 18, 2011 at 12:09

Gary Green

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2 Comments

Andy E Over a year ago

Presumably, you (and the OP) would want to use non-capturing groups if you're just after a boolean result.

Gary Green Over a year ago

Sure, he can go about adding ?: everywhere if he likes ;-)

user235273 · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-18 07:35:16Z

1

^((http|https|ftp):\/\/)?([a-z]+\.)?[a-z0-9-]+(\.[a-z]{1,4}){1,2}(/.*\?.*)?$

Matches

http://www.example.com
www.example.com
example.com
example.info
abc.com.uk
www.example.co.in
www.example.com.sg
example.com.sg
t.com
co.co
https://www.t.co
asd.com.io/abc?foo=blah

False positives

abc.com.sg.in
example.com.aero.uk

answered Nov 18, 2013 at 7:35

user235273

1 Comment

‌‌R‌‌‌. Over a year ago

its not matched with "test.com/test" or "www.test.com/"

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