Git Fully Qualified Ref Path Regex for Python

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 Python. A rigorously tested regex reduces debugging time and protects your application from edge-case failures. The snippet below is ready to drop into your Python project — whether you're validating in a Django view, a FastAPI endpoint, or a standalone data processing script.

Python Implementation

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

import re

git_fully_qualified_ref_path_pattern = re.compile(r'^refs/(?:heads|tags|remotes|notes)/[a-zA-Z0-9][a-zA-Z0-9._\-/]{0,249}$')

def validate_git_fully_qualified_ref_path(value: str) -> bool:
    return bool(git_fully_qualified_ref_path_pattern.fullmatch(value))

# Example
print(validate_git_fully_qualified_ref_path("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 Python developers because particularly important in Python web servers where CPU-bound regex operations can stall concurrent request handling. 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.