Log File Path Extraction Regex for PHP

What this pattern does

This page provides a lightweight, single-purpose regular expression for matching log file path extraction, ported and verified for PHP. A rigorously tested regex reduces debugging time and protects your application from edge-case failures. 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
// Log File Path Extraction
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Dev & Systems > Log Parsing

define('LOG_FILE_PATH_EXTRACTION_PATTERN', '/^\\/(?:[^\\/\s]+\\/)*[^\\/\s]+$/');

function validate_log_file_path_extraction(string $input): bool {
    return (bool) preg_match(LOG_FILE_PATH_EXTRACTION_PATTERN, $input);
}

// Example
var_dump(validate_log_file_path_extraction("/var/log/app.log")); // bool(true)

Test Cases

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Dev & Systems > Log Parsing 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

Group 1 = matched path. Spaces in paths are not matched. URLs (http://host/path) may partially match since /path is valid — filter by context after extraction.