Domain Label (Single Segment) Regex for PHP

What this pattern does

This page provides a well-structured, multi-part regular expression for matching domain label (single segment), ported and verified for PHP. A rigorously tested regex reduces debugging time and protects your application from edge-case failures. The snippet below is ready to drop into your PHP project — whether you're validating in a Laravel validator, a WordPress plugin, or a standalone PHP script.

Php Implementation

<?php
// Domain Label (Single Segment)
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Web & Network > Domain

define('DOMAIN_LABEL_SINGLE_SEGMENT_PATTERN', '/^[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9\-]{0,61}[a-zA-Z0-9])?$/');

function validate_domain_label_single_segment(string $input): bool {
    return (bool) preg_match(DOMAIN_LABEL_SINGLE_SEGMENT_PATTERN, $input);
}

// Example
var_dump(validate_domain_label_single_segment("example")); // bool(true)

Test Cases

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Web & Network > Domain category and carries a ReDoS-safe certification. That matters for PHP developers because especially relevant in PHP where PCRE backtracking limits can trigger silent failures on malicious input. 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

Technical Notes

The 63-character maximum is per RFC 1034. The last invalid test case is 64 chars (one over the limit). Use for validating individual hostname components.