Regular Expression for Date or Datetime Validation
This Regular Expression will verify if a date is a valid YYYY-MM-DD with an optional HH:MM:SS. It checks to see if the day is a valid day in the given month with the consideration of leap years.
I have created this regex several years ago and now I want to share it with the world. It is not 100% documented however I have posted output from RegexBuddy's document function.
<?php
if (preg_match('/\\A(?:^((\\d{2}(([02468][048])|([13579][26]))[\\-\\/\\s]?((((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\\-\\/\\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))|(((0?[469])|(11))[\\-\\/\\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))|(0?2[\\-\\/\\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])))))|(\\d{2}(([02468][1235679])|([13579][01345789]))[\\-\\/\\s]?((((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\\-\\/\\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))|(((0?[469])|(11))[\\-\\/\\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))|(0?2[\\-\\/\\s]?((0?[1-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-8]))))))(\\s(((0?[0-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-3]))\\:([0-5][0-9])((\\s)|(\\:([0-5][0-9])))?))?$)\\z/', $date)) {
// date is valid
} else {
// date is invalid
}
?>
// ^((\d{2}(([02468][048])|([13579][26]))[\-\/\s]?((((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))|(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))|(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])))))|(\d{2}(([02468][1235679])|([13579][01345789]))[\-\/\s]?((((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))|(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))|(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-8]))))))(\s(((0?[0-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-3]))\:([0-5][0-9])((\s)|(\:([0-5][0-9])))?))?$
//
// Assert position at the start of the string «^»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 1 «((\d{2}(([02468][048])|([13579][26]))[\-\/\s]?((((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))|(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))|(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])))))|(\d{2}(([02468][1235679])|([13579][01345789]))[\-\/\s]?((((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))|(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))|(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-8]))))))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(\d{2}(([02468][048])|([13579][26]))[\-\/\s]?((((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))|(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))|(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])))))»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 2 «(\d{2}(([02468][048])|([13579][26]))[\-\/\s]?((((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))|(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))|(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])))))»
// Match a single digit 0..9 «\d{2}»
// Exactly 2 times «{2}»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 3 «(([02468][048])|([13579][26]))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «([02468][048])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 4 «([02468][048])»
// Match a single character present in the list "02468" «[02468]»
// Match a single character present in the list "048" «[048]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «([13579][26])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 5 «([13579][26])»
// Match a single character present in the list "13579" «[13579]»
// Match a single character present in the list "26" «[26]»
// Match a single character present in the list below «[\-\/\s]?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// A - character «\-»
// A / character «\/»
// Match a single character that is a "whitespace character" (spaces, tabs, line breaks, etc.) «\s»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 6 «((((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))|(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))|(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9]))))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 7 «(((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 8 «((0?[13578])|(1[02]))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(0?[13578])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 9 «(0?[13578])»
// Match the character "0" literally «0?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match a single character present in the list "13578" «[13578]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(1[02])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 10 «(1[02])»
// Match the character "1" literally «1»
// Match a single character present in the list "02" «[02]»
// Match a single character present in the list below «[\-\/\s]?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// A - character «\-»
// A / character «\/»
// Match a single character that is a "whitespace character" (spaces, tabs, line breaks, etc.) «\s»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 11 «((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01]))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(0?[1-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 12 «(0?[1-9])»
// Match the character "0" literally «0?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match a single character in the range between "1" and "9" «[1-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «([1-2][0-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 13 «([1-2][0-9])»
// Match a single character in the range between "1" and "2" «[1-2]»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "9" «[0-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 3 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(3[01])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 14 «(3[01])»
// Match the character "3" literally «3»
// Match a single character present in the list "01" «[01]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 15 «(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 16 «((0?[469])|(11))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(0?[469])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 17 «(0?[469])»
// Match the character "0" literally «0?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match a single character present in the list "469" «[469]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(11)»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 18 «(11)»
// Match the characters "11" literally «11»
// Match a single character present in the list below «[\-\/\s]?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// A - character «\-»
// A / character «\/»
// Match a single character that is a "whitespace character" (spaces, tabs, line breaks, etc.) «\s»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 19 «((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(0?[1-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 20 «(0?[1-9])»
// Match the character "0" literally «0?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match a single character in the range between "1" and "9" «[1-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «([1-2][0-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 21 «([1-2][0-9])»
// Match a single character in the range between "1" and "2" «[1-2]»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "9" «[0-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 3 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(30)»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 22 «(30)»
// Match the characters "30" literally «30»
// Or match regular expression number 3 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])))»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 23 «(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])))»
// Match the character "0" literally «0?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match the character "2" literally «2»
// Match a single character present in the list below «[\-\/\s]?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// A - character «\-»
// A / character «\/»
// Match a single character that is a "whitespace character" (spaces, tabs, line breaks, etc.) «\s»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 24 «((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9]))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(0?[1-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 25 «(0?[1-9])»
// Match the character "0" literally «0?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match a single character in the range between "1" and "9" «[1-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «([1-2][0-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 26 «([1-2][0-9])»
// Match a single character in the range between "1" and "2" «[1-2]»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "9" «[0-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(\d{2}(([02468][1235679])|([13579][01345789]))[\-\/\s]?((((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))|(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))|(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-8])))))»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 27 «(\d{2}(([02468][1235679])|([13579][01345789]))[\-\/\s]?((((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))|(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))|(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-8])))))»
// Match a single digit 0..9 «\d{2}»
// Exactly 2 times «{2}»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 28 «(([02468][1235679])|([13579][01345789]))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «([02468][1235679])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 29 «([02468][1235679])»
// Match a single character present in the list "02468" «[02468]»
// Match a single character present in the list "1235679" «[1235679]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «([13579][01345789])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 30 «([13579][01345789])»
// Match a single character present in the list "13579" «[13579]»
// Match a single character present in the list "01345789" «[01345789]»
// Match a single character present in the list below «[\-\/\s]?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// A - character «\-»
// A / character «\/»
// Match a single character that is a "whitespace character" (spaces, tabs, line breaks, etc.) «\s»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 31 «((((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))|(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))|(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-8]))))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 32 «(((0?[13578])|(1[02]))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01])))»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 33 «((0?[13578])|(1[02]))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(0?[13578])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 34 «(0?[13578])»
// Match the character "0" literally «0?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match a single character present in the list "13578" «[13578]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(1[02])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 35 «(1[02])»
// Match the character "1" literally «1»
// Match a single character present in the list "02" «[02]»
// Match a single character present in the list below «[\-\/\s]?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// A - character «\-»
// A / character «\/»
// Match a single character that is a "whitespace character" (spaces, tabs, line breaks, etc.) «\s»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 36 «((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(3[01]))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(0?[1-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 37 «(0?[1-9])»
// Match the character "0" literally «0?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match a single character in the range between "1" and "9" «[1-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «([1-2][0-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 38 «([1-2][0-9])»
// Match a single character in the range between "1" and "2" «[1-2]»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "9" «[0-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 3 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(3[01])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 39 «(3[01])»
// Match the character "3" literally «3»
// Match a single character present in the list "01" «[01]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 40 «(((0?[469])|(11))[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30)))»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 41 «((0?[469])|(11))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(0?[469])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 42 «(0?[469])»
// Match the character "0" literally «0?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match a single character present in the list "469" «[469]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(11)»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 43 «(11)»
// Match the characters "11" literally «11»
// Match a single character present in the list below «[\-\/\s]?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// A - character «\-»
// A / character «\/»
// Match a single character that is a "whitespace character" (spaces, tabs, line breaks, etc.) «\s»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 44 «((0?[1-9])|([1-2][0-9])|(30))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(0?[1-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 45 «(0?[1-9])»
// Match the character "0" literally «0?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match a single character in the range between "1" and "9" «[1-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «([1-2][0-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 46 «([1-2][0-9])»
// Match a single character in the range between "1" and "2" «[1-2]»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "9" «[0-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 3 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(30)»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 47 «(30)»
// Match the characters "30" literally «30»
// Or match regular expression number 3 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-8])))»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 48 «(0?2[\-\/\s]?((0?[1-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-8])))»
// Match the character "0" literally «0?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match the character "2" literally «2»
// Match a single character present in the list below «[\-\/\s]?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// A - character «\-»
// A / character «\/»
// Match a single character that is a "whitespace character" (spaces, tabs, line breaks, etc.) «\s»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 49 «((0?[1-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-8]))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(0?[1-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 50 «(0?[1-9])»
// Match the character "0" literally «0?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match a single character in the range between "1" and "9" «[1-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(1[0-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 51 «(1[0-9])»
// Match the character "1" literally «1»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "9" «[0-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 3 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(2[0-8])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 52 «(2[0-8])»
// Match the character "2" literally «2»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "8" «[0-8]»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 53 «(\s(((0?[0-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-3]))\:([0-5][0-9])((\s)|(\:([0-5][0-9])))?))?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match a single character that is a "whitespace character" (spaces, tabs, line breaks, etc.) «\s»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 54 «(((0?[0-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-3]))\:([0-5][0-9])((\s)|(\:([0-5][0-9])))?)»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 55 «((0?[0-9])|(1[0-9])|(2[0-3]))»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(0?[0-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 56 «(0?[0-9])»
// Match the character "0" literally «0?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "9" «[0-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(1[0-9])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 57 «(1[0-9])»
// Match the character "1" literally «1»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "9" «[0-9]»
// Or match regular expression number 3 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(2[0-3])»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 58 «(2[0-3])»
// Match the character "2" literally «2»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "3" «[0-3]»
// Match the character ":" literally «\:»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 59 «([0-5][0-9])»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "5" «[0-5]»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "9" «[0-9]»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 60 «((\s)|(\:([0-5][0-9])))?»
// Between zero and one times, as many times as possible, giving back as needed (greedy) «?»
// Match either the regular expression below (attempting the next alternative only if this one fails) «(\s)»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 61 «(\s)»
// Match a single character that is a "whitespace character" (spaces, tabs, line breaks, etc.) «\s»
// Or match regular expression number 2 below (the entire group fails if this one fails to match) «(\:([0-5][0-9]))»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 62 «(\:([0-5][0-9]))»
// Match the character ":" literally «\:»
// Match the regular expression below and capture its match into backreference number 63 «([0-5][0-9])»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "5" «[0-5]»
// Match a single character in the range between "0" and "9" «[0-9]»
// Assert position at the end of the string (or before the line break at the end of the string, if any) «$»
Comments
Wouldn't it be easier to do just
if(strtotime($date)) ?
Because basically, strtotime first tries to convert the string to date and if it fails(if the string is invalid) it just returns false.
yeah, thats what i use these days... but how could i just let this baby go to waste? had to publish it because it must have taken me a half day or so of trial and error.
This RegEx is a lot safer. For instance a string like '1VV' does get converted by strtotime, while it;s obviously isn't a date.
So thank you for this RegEx. It was what I was looking for and it works like a charm.
Need regular expression for date in yyyy-mm-dd format with leap year validation in PHP. Help!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks in advance…..!!
Hi Krish, this expression does that, however the user may also enter a time, which if valid would be a valid match for this expression. if the user just enters a date and no time, then it will just check the date is valid.
Hi I was looking for something like this I'm kind of stuck ... basically I have a user form like a drop down menu in which it shows the date month and year then there is another drop down box for the hours mins and seconds. The reason for the drop down box is so the user can't enter rubbish data like hsgsjdb ..
But I am having problems .. how can I check for valid date and time (although the time does not need to be validated because its a drop down box)
I have used DATETIME format on my sql..
Help would be highly helpful
thx for nice solution
but probably I've found a BUG:
"2100-02-29 20:25:25" - should be invalid
because each 100th year should not be leap year (February has only 28 days )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_year#Algorithm
Regards,
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