File Extension Extraction Regex for Go
/(?:^|\/)([^\/\s\.]+[\w.]*\.([a-zA-Z0-9]{1,10}))$/iWhat this pattern does
This page provides a well-structured, multi-part regular expression for matching file extension extraction, ported and verified for Go. A rigorously tested regex reduces debugging time and protects your application from edge-case failures. The snippet below is ready to drop into your Go project — whether you're validating in a Gin handler, a gRPC service, or a command-line tool.
Go Implementation
// File Extension Extraction
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Dev & Systems > File Paths
package validation
import "regexp"
var fileExtensionExtractionRe = regexp.MustCompile(`(?:^|\/)([^\/\s\.]+[\w.]*\.([a-zA-Z0-9]{1,10}))$`)
func ValidateFileExtensionExtraction(s string) bool {
return fileExtensionExtractionRe.MatchString(s)
}
// Example
// fmt.Println(ValidateFileExtensionExtraction("file.txt")) // trueTest Cases
Matches (Valid) | Rejects (Invalid) |
|---|---|
file.txt | .gitignore |
archive.tar.gz | noextension |
/path/to/file.json | file. |
document.PDF | file.toolongextension123 |
script.min.js | — |
When to use this pattern
This pattern is drawn from the Dev & Systems > File Paths category and carries a ReDoS-safe certification. That matters for Go developers because Go's RE2 engine is inherently safe from catastrophic backtracking, but this pattern has been additionally verified for correctness. 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
MIME type validation should use magic bytes (file content), not extension alone. Attackers use double extensions (invoice.pdf.exe) to disguise executables.
Technical Notes
Group 1 = final extension segment. For compound extensions like .tar.gz, extract the last segment (gz). Extension limited to 10 chars. Dotfiles (.gitignore) have no extension.
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