MAC Address (Hyphen-Separated) Regex for Python

What this pattern does

This page provides a well-structured, multi-part regular expression for matching mac address (hyphen-separated), 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

# MAC Address (Hyphen-Separated)
# ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Web & Network > MAC Address

import re

mac_address_hyphenseparated_pattern = re.compile(r'^[0-9a-fA-F]{2}(?:-[0-9a-fA-F]{2}){5}$')

def validate_mac_address_hyphenseparated(value: str) -> bool:
    return bool(mac_address_hyphenseparated_pattern.fullmatch(value))

# Example
print(validate_mac_address_hyphenseparated("00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E"))  # True

Test Cases

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Web & Network > MAC Address 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

Windows uses hyphen-separated notation in ARP tables and ipconfig. Accept both hyphen and colon formats in user-facing inputs.