REGEXVAULTv2.0
Dev & Systems/Docker
Verified Safe

Docker Container Name Regex for JavaScript

/^[a-zA-Z0-9][a-zA-Z0-9_\-.]{0,253}$/

What this pattern does

This page provides a well-structured, multi-part regular expression for matching docker container name, ported and verified for JavaScript. A rigorously tested regex reduces debugging time and protects your application from edge-case failures. The snippet below is ready to drop into your JavaScript project — whether you're validating in an Express middleware, a Next.js API route, or a client-side form.

Javascript Implementation

Javascript
// Docker Container Name
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Dev & Systems > Docker

const dockerContainerNameRegex = /^[a-zA-Z0-9][a-zA-Z0-9_\-.]{0,253}$/;

function validateDockerContainerName(input: string): boolean {
  return dockerContainerNameRegex.test(input);
}

// Example
console.log(validateDockerContainerName("my-container")); // true

Test Cases

Matches (Valid)
Rejects (Invalid)
my-container-container
webapp_1.container
db.primary/container
nginxcontainer name
app-server-01

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Dev & Systems > Docker category and carries a ReDoS-safe certification. That matters for JavaScript developers because especially critical in long-running Node.js event loops where a ReDoS vulnerability can block the entire process. RegexVault audits patterns against known backtracking attack vectors, ensuring you have the necessary context before using this regex in a high-stakes production environment.

Common Pitfalls

Container names in Docker Compose are auto-prefixed with the project name. Account for this prefix when referencing containers externally.

Technical Notes

Docker container names must be unique within a Docker daemon. Container names are used for DNS resolution within Docker networks.

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