Regex pattern ^(\+?6?01)[0|1|2|3|4|6|7|8|9]\-*[0-9]{7,8}$ in HTML5 input return error. I tested the regex, no errors on regex101 as well as in my php code. But in HTML5 it does not function as it be. My code:

<input class="mdl-textfield__input" name="mobile_number" type="text" pattern="^(\+?6?01)[0|1|2|3|4|6|7|8|9]\-*[0-9]{7,8}$">

Error:

textfield.js:146 Pattern attribute value ^(+?6?01)[0|1|2|3|4|6|7|8|9]-*[0-9]{7,8}$ is not a valid regular expression: Uncaught SyntaxError: Invalid regular expression: /^(+?6?01)[0|1|2|3|4|6|7|8|9]-*[0-9]{7,8}$/: Invalid escape

Anyone can help me? Thanks in advance for any helps offered.

My tested regex:

Regex pattern ^(\+?6?01)[0|1|2|3|4|6|7|8|9]\-*[0-9]{7,8}$ in HTML5 input return error. I tested the regex, no errors on regex101. as well as in my php code. But in HTML5 it does not function as it be. My code:

<input class="mdl-textfield__input" name="mobile_number" type="text" pattern="^(\+?6?01)[0|1|2|3|4|6|7|8|9]\-*[0-9]{7,8}$">

Error:

textfield.js:146 Pattern attribute value ^(+?6?01)[0|1|2|3|4|6|7|8|9]-*[0-9]{7,8}$ is not a valid regular expression: Uncaught SyntaxError: Invalid regular expression: /^(+?6?01)[0|1|2|3|4|6|7|8|9]-*[0-9]{7,8}$/: Invalid escape

Anyone can help me? Thanks in advance for any helps offered.

My tested regex: https://regex101./r/1WsVwo/1

• javascript
• regex
• html

• 1 where does leading -? and trailing ? e from? – Jaromanda X Commented Jul 31, 2017 at 2:20
• 1 What is the goal? [0|1|2|3|4|6|7|8|9] is allowing pipes is that what you want? It could just be [0-9] if you want numbers. Also html5 patterns are full string so the ^$ should be removed. – chris85 Commented Jul 31, 2017 at 2:20
• 2 What is \- supposed to mean? There's no need to escape the hyphen. – Robby Cornelissen Commented Jul 31, 2017 at 2:21
• @JaromandaX I update my error. – Nere Commented Jul 31, 2017 at 2:22
• 3 [0|1|2|3|4|6|7|8|9] is incorrect. You mean [012346789], which is better written as [0-46-9]. – elixenide Commented Jul 31, 2017 at 2:23

5 Answers 5

Just to clarify, the answer of @elixenide is good enough for this question. But I do have some improvement for the regex part. First, +60 / 60 is Malaysia country calling code, then it follow by 9/10 digit number. But only one kind of number having 10 digit number after country calling code while others is 9 digit. For example:

• 60 1112345678 (number start with 11 have 10 digit)
• 60 121234567 (number that not start with 11 have 9 digit)
• 60 151234567 (number start with 15 will is not a valid phone number, it is for Digi broadband user if not mistaken)

So this is my improvement on how the regex should be

pattern="^(\+?6?01)[02-46-9]-*[0-9]{7}$|^(\+?6?01)[1]-*[0-9]{8}$"

Here are the link to regex101, try it

My sample output in regex101

You have a few problems with your regex. The one causing the "invalid escape" error is that you have \-, but you do not need to (and should not) escape the hyphen. You should just have -. A proper version of your input is:

<input class="mdl-textfield__input" name="mobile_number" type="text" pattern="^(\+?6?01)[0-46-9]-*[0-9]{7,8}$">

Here's a demo.

In that example, I've also replaced the group [0|1|2|3|4|6|7|8|9] with the cleaner and more accurate [0-46-9]. In a character group (like [...]), the pipe symbol (|) is just another character, with no special meaning. So, for example, [0|1] doesn't just match 0 or 1; it also matches a literal | character, which is not what you wanted. You might find this post helpful: Reference - What does this regex mean?

Tested further, below regex enforce user to key in dash (-):

^(\+?6?01)[02-46-9][-][0-9]{7}$|^(\+?6?01)[1][-][0-9]{8}$

Enter phone number in 01Z-XXXXXXX or 011-XXXXXXXX, where X is 0 to 9 and Z is 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9

because your syntax error, invalid escape - => -

this correct:

<input class="mdl-textfield__input" name="mobile_number" type="text" pattern="^(\+?6?01)[0|1|2|3|4|6|7|8|9]-*[0-9]{7,8}$">

<input class="mdl-textfield__input" name="mobile_number" type="text" pattern="(\+?6?01)[0-9]{7,8}">

i change your pattern to (\+?6?01)[0-9]{7,8}

*Update: (\+?6?01)[0-46-9]-*[0-9]{7,8}

See demo