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Regular Expression - Allow multiple periods in emails

I have the following regular expression:

function regIsEmail(fData){ 
				var reg = new RegExp("^[0-9a-zA-Z]+@[0-9a-zA-Z]+[\.]{1}[0-9a-zA-Z]+[\.]?[0-9a-zA-Z]+$"); 
				return reg.test(fData); 
	}

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the problem is, this expression does not allow email addresses like: firstName.lastName@school.grade.state.us
An email in this format gets rejected. I personally would reject it for being annoying, but that's not the point.

What do I need to change to make this work?

Thanks for your help!!!

-Steve

Rgonzo1971

Hi,

Maybe

var reg = new RegExp("^[0-9a-zA-Z]+@(?:[A-Z0-9-]+\.)+?[0-9a-zA-Z]+$");

Regards

Anthony Fitzgerald

Hi,

There are probably a few different ways. How about using the look ahead and look behind to check that they don't start or end with a period and then just allow any numbers/characters and period, something like this:

var reg = new RegExp("^(?!\.)[0-9a-zA-Z\.]+(?<!\.)@(?!\.)[0-9a-zA-Z\.]+(?<!\.)$");

Cheers,
Anthony.

slightlyoff

ASKER

Hello! Thank you for your replies! I tried the second code first from Anthony - something is wrong with that one, it breaks the javascript and the form won't submit.

I tried the one from Rgonzo1971 next, and that one won't let the periods in the email. I tried using: steve.me@sd.k12.us

I get invalid email.

Any advice? thanks again for your help!!!

Anthony Fitzgerald

My RegEx expression works fine when I tested it.
But of course you are using JavaScript. RegEx Look Behind is not supported in JavaScript. That sucks.

Try this without the Look Behind instead. I haven't tested it in JavaScript, but I have tested it in another tool and it works.

var reg = new RegExp("^(?!\.)[0-9a-zA-Z\.]+[0-9a-zA-Z]@(?!\.)[0-9a-zA-Z\.]+[0-9a-zA-Z]$");

Let me know how you get on.

Cheers,
Anthony.

slightlyoff

ASKER

Thanks again for your help! After putting in the new Regex, it triggers an invalid email when i try steve@mycompany.usa.com. With my original regex expression, I can get email's like this to work, but the moment i try first.last@mycompany.usa.com it doesn't work.

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Anthony Fitzgerald

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Anthony Fitzgerald

Well, how did you get on? Did you get it working in the end?

slightlyoff

ASKER

Sorry for the delay - they had me on other projects, and i finally got back to it.
It's working now. People need to have more simple email addresses in my humble opinion.

Thanks again!

-Steve

kaufmed

Personally, I'd use the pattern found here:

http://www.regular-expressions.info/email.html

...for the reasons the author outlines.