validating the url in a form field

[jimfog]

I just noticed-by running tests- that in order for a web address to pass the php validation url filter it MUST be accompanied by the "http" in the beginning of the url. That said www.xxxx..com will not PASS the filter. From my point of view I think I must write extra checks because the user might write the web address without the "http". What do you do in a similar situation like this?

[Rollins]

i would try replacing the "www." with "http://www."....

function add_http($text){// set http: on www.  $text = preg_replace( '"www\."', "http://www.", $text );// remove duplicates after set   $text = preg_replace( '"http://http://www\."', "http://www.", $text );   $text = preg_replace( '"https://http://www\."', "https://www.", $text );}

Edited March 27, 2013 by Rollins

[jimfog]

...and what I would do if the URL submitted by the user has already the http in it? I think I must write a conditional in this case.

[thescientist]

http://php.net/manual/en/function.strpos.php

[Rollins]

filter_validate_url should catch a http://random.com type url from what i have found.... the example you posted has a double dot...if u use that to test it could screw up the results aswell. i think.... "That said www.xxxx..com will not PASS the filter."

[jimfog]

filter_validate_url should catch a http://random.com type url from what i have found.... the example you posted has a double dot...if u use that to test it could screw up the results aswell. i think.... "That said www.xxxx..com will not PASS the filter."

Forget the example with the double dot. A mistyped.