Git Fully Qualified Ref Path Regex for JavaScript

What this pattern does

This page provides a well-structured, multi-part regular expression for matching git fully qualified ref path, 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

// Git Fully Qualified Ref Path
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Dev & Systems > Git

const gitFullyQualifiedRefPathRegex = /^refs\/(?:heads|tags|remotes|notes)\/[a-zA-Z0-9][a-zA-Z0-9._\-\/]{0,249}$/;

function validateGitFullyQualifiedRefPath(input: string): boolean {
  return gitFullyQualifiedRefPathRegex.test(input);
}

// Example
console.log(validateGitFullyQualifiedRefPath("refs/heads/main")); // true

Test Cases

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Dev & Systems > Git 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

Technical Notes

refs/heads/ = local branches. refs/remotes/ = tracking branches. refs/tags/ = tags. refs/notes/ = git notes. HEAD is a symbolic ref, not a standard ref path.