Google API Key Regex for Python

What this pattern does

This page provides a lightweight, single-purpose regular expression for matching google api key, ported and verified for Python. In security-sensitive code, using an unverified regex can open the door to both false positives and denial-of-service attacks. 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

# Google API Key
# ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Security > API Keys & Tokens

import re

google_api_key_pattern = re.compile(r'^AIza[0-9A-Za-z_-]{30,45}$')

def validate_google_api_key(value: str) -> bool:
    return bool(google_api_key_pattern.fullmatch(value))

# Example
print(validate_google_api_key("AIzaSyD-9tSrke72I6e0qOZVOtU5oBRBmBPUfhI"))  # True

Test Cases

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Security > API Keys & Tokens 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

Google API keys starting with AIza are used for Maps, YouTube, Firebase, and other Google APIs. Keys can be restricted to specific APIs and IP ranges in Google Cloud Console — always restrict in production.