Node.js Stack Trace Frame Regex for JavaScript

What this pattern does

This page provides a comprehensive, battle-tested regular expression for matching node.js stack trace frame, ported and verified for JavaScript. A rigorously tested regex reduces debugging time and protects your application from edge-case failures. The snippet below is ready to drop into your JavaScript project — whether you're validating in an Express middleware, a Next.js API route, or a client-side form.

Javascript Implementation

// Node.js Stack Trace Frame
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Dev & Systems > Log Parsing

const nodejsStackTraceFrameRegex = /^\s+at (?:([a-zA-Z_$][a-zA-Z0-9_$.\s<>]*) \()?([^)]+):([0-9]+):([0-9]+)\)?$/;

function validateNodejsStackTraceFrame(input: string): boolean {
  return nodejsStackTraceFrameRegex.test(input);
}

// Example
console.log(validateNodejsStackTraceFrame("    at Object.<anonymous> (/app/index.js:10:5)")); // 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 JavaScript developers because especially critical in long-running Node.js event loops where a ReDoS vulnerability can block the entire process. 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

Groups: 1=function name (optional), 2=file path, 3=line, 4=column. Node.js prefixes built-ins with 'node:'. V8 stack traces include column numbers unlike Java.