IMEI Number (Mobile Device) Regex for PHP

What this pattern does

This page provides a lightweight, single-purpose regular expression for matching imei number (mobile device), ported and verified for PHP. Identity and credential patterns need both correctness and safety, since they're frequent targets for adversarial input. 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
// IMEI Number (Mobile Device)
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Identity & PII > Digital Identity

define('IMEI_NUMBER_MOBILE_DEVICE_PATTERN', '/^[0-9]{15}$/');

function validate_imei_number_mobile_device(string $input): bool {
    return (bool) preg_match(IMEI_NUMBER_MOBILE_DEVICE_PATTERN, $input);
}

// Example
var_dump(validate_imei_number_mobile_device("356938035643809")); // bool(true)

Test Cases

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Identity & PII > Digital Identity 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

IMEI structure: 8-digit TAC (Type Allocation Code, identifies manufacturer/model) + 6-digit serial number + 1 Luhn check digit. IMEI2 is used for dual-SIM devices. IMEISV is 16 digits (includes software version). Always validate Luhn checksum.