YAML Key (Unquoted Scalar) Regex for Java

What this pattern does

This page provides a comprehensive, battle-tested regular expression for matching yaml key (unquoted scalar), ported and verified for Java. A rigorously tested regex reduces debugging time and protects your application from edge-case failures. The snippet below is ready to drop into your Java project — whether you're validating in a Spring Boot controller, a Jakarta EE service, or a standalone utility class.

Java Implementation

// YAML Key (Unquoted Scalar)
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Dev & Systems > Config

import java.util.regex.Pattern;

public class YamlKeyUnquotedScalarValidator {
    private static final Pattern PATTERN =
        Pattern.compile("^[a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9_\\-.]{0,127}(?=\\s*:)");

    public static boolean validate(String input) {
        return PATTERN.matcher(input).matches();
    }

    // Example
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println(validate("key: value")); // true
    }
}

Test Cases

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Dev & Systems > Config category and carries a ReDoS-safe certification. That matters for Java developers because critical in Java applications since the JVM regex engine uses backtracking and is susceptible to ReDoS without careful pattern design. 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

The lookahead (?=\s*:) ensures only the key is matched. YAML keys can technically be any node, but this covers the common identifier case. Use a YAML parser for full key extraction.