Regex for people names PHP

Question

I am using this regex to make sure that names can only contain letters, apostrophe or hyphen.

Validator::extend('people_names', function($attribute, $value, $parameters, $validator) {
        return preg_match("^[a-zA-Z-'\s]+$^", $value);

When I use this tool to check if the regex is correct, it shows its correct, but in my form when I test an input starting with digits or any other characters like 123name or #$#$name it passes while it should not. An input with letters then digits like name123 is rejected.

[Falsehoods Programmers Believe About Names](https://www.kalzumeus.com/2010/06/17/falsehoods-programmers-believe-about-names/) — Thomas Ayoub, Sep 15 '16 at 08:28

Patrick Mlr · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-15T08:33:53.433

2

The PHP preg_ functions need to start with /^ and end with $/.

Try this:

preg_match("/^[a-zA-Z-'\s]+$/", $value);

edited Sep 15 '16 at 08:33

answered Sep 15 '16 at 08:32

Patrick Mlr

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In PHP, you do not have to *to start with `/^` and end with `$/`*, just `preg_` functions require a regex delimiter. – Wiktor Stribiżew Sep 15 '16 at 08:33
1

`^` and `$` are *regex anchors* that are part of the *pattern*, the regex delimiters are `/` leading and trailing symbols here. – Wiktor Stribiżew Sep 15 '16 at 08:36

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 15 '16 at 08:33

In your regex ^[a-zA-Z-'\s]+$^, you are only checking if the string ends with a letter by using the $ at the end, but the ^ at the beginning is used here asthe regex delimiter, since it's also at the end.

I'd recommend using another string delimiter, such as # or / :

preg_match("#^[a-zA-Z-'\s]+$#", $value) should work.

Regex for people names PHP

2 Answers2