Another Javascript Regular Expression problem

Question

Hello again,

I have a similar issue as my recent post but with a zip code validator i am trying to convert over to a javascript validation process. my script looks like so:

    var regPostalCode = new RegExp("\\d{5}(-\d{4})?");
    var postal_code = $("input[name='txtzipcode']").val();
    if (regPostalCode.test(postal_code) == false) {
        bValid = false;
        msg = msg + '<li>Invalid Zip Code.</li>';
    }

From my recent post i learned of the escape character that i needed at the beginning. Basically this function is validating a zip code that is say 22601 which is correct, but it shouldn't validate 22601-1. There should have to be 4 digits after the dash like 22601-9999. It's like the second part of the validation is always true. Again this expression has worked in the past for me. Am i missing something? Another escape character needed?

Thanks again, Billy

Answer 1

Add anchors: new RegExp("^\\d{5}(-\\d{4})?$"). This forces the regular expression engine to only accept a match, if it begins at the first character of the string (^) and ends at the end of the string ($) being matched.

Note, that there might be a typo in the regular expression you hav given in your question: the second \d is missing a backslash.

Answer 2

Change your regex to:

new RegExp("^\\d{5}(-\\d{4})?$")