HTTP Strict-Transport-Security Header Regex for PHP

What this pattern does

This page provides a well-structured, multi-part regular expression for matching http strict-transport-security header, ported and verified for PHP. 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 PHP project — whether you're validating in a Laravel validator, a WordPress plugin, or a standalone PHP script.

Php Implementation

<?php
// HTTP Strict-Transport-Security Header
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Security > Security Headers

define('HTTP_STRICTTRANSPORTSECURITY_HEADER_PATTERN', '/^max-age=([0-9]+)(?:;\s*includeSubDomains)?(?:;\s*preload)?$/');

function validate_http_stricttransportsecurity_header(string $input): bool {
    return (bool) preg_match(HTTP_STRICTTRANSPORTSECURITY_HEADER_PATTERN, $input);
}

// Example
var_dump(validate_http_stricttransportsecurity_header("max-age=31536000")); // bool(true)

Test Cases

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Security > Security Headers 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

HSTS tells browsers to only connect via HTTPS. min max-age for HSTS preloading: 31536000 (1 year). max-age=0 disables HSTS. includeSubDomains extends to all subdomains. preload submits to Chrome/Firefox preload lists — be careful, it is very hard to undo. Capture group 1: max-age value in seconds.