Log File Path Extraction Regex for Python

What this pattern does

This page provides a lightweight, single-purpose regular expression for matching log file path extraction, 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

# Log File Path Extraction
# ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Dev & Systems > Log Parsing

import re

log_file_path_extraction_pattern = re.compile(r'^\/(?:[^\/\s]+\/)*[^\/\s]+$')

def validate_log_file_path_extraction(value: str) -> bool:
    return bool(log_file_path_extraction_pattern.fullmatch(value))

# Example
print(validate_log_file_path_extraction("/var/log/app.log"))  # 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 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

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.