regex_builder

Create, test, and debug regular expressions with syntax references and security checks.

Updated Jan 14, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/jvsandhu/agentic-skills --skill regex-builder-jvsandhu
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: regex_builder
Source: https://github.com/jvsandhu/agentic-skills/tree/main/skills/regex_builder
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/jvsandhu/agentic-skills --skill regex-builder-jvsandhu

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Writing correct regular expressions is error-prone: patterns often fail on edge cases, suffer from catastrophic backtracking (ReDoS), or silently accept invalid input. This Skill provides a structured reference and workflow for building, testing, and hardening regex patterns. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Syntax Reference: Quick tables for character classes, quantifiers, anchors, groups, and lookarounds. - Ready-Made Patterns: Common patterns for email, URL, phone, IP address, date, and strong password validation. - Testing & Debugging Workflow: Guidance for visual testing on Regex101, unit testing positive and negative cases, and preventing ReDoS with atomic groups and possessive quantifiers. - Use Case: When you need to validate user input such as Turkish phone numbers or dates in a JavaScript or Python application, use this Skill to get a correct pattern, test it, and ensure it is safe against denial-of-service attacks. ## Quick Start Ask the agent to build and test a regular expression for validating email addresses in JavaScript, including negative test cases and a ReDoS safety check.

Frequently Asked Questions about regex_builder

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I write a regex to validate an email address?▼

Use the pattern ^[a-zA-Z0-9._%+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2}$ to match standard email formats. Anchor it with ^ and $ so the entire string must conform, and test both valid and invalid addresses before deploying.

How to test regular expressions in JavaScript and Python?▼

In JavaScript, use regex.test('string') for boolean checks and 'string'.match(regex) for matches. In Python, use re.search() to find matches, re.findall() for all occurrences, and re.sub() for replacements.

What is ReDoS and how do I prevent catastrophic backtracking?▼

ReDoS (Regular expression Denial of Service) occurs when nested quantifiers cause exponential backtracking on crafted input. Prevent it by using atomic groups (?>...), possessive quantifiers like ++, and scanning patterns with safe-regex tools.

What is the difference between greedy and lazy quantifiers in regex?▼

Greedy quantifiers like .* match as much text as possible, while lazy quantifiers like .*? match as little as possible. Use lazy matching when extracting content between delimiters to avoid over-capturing across multiple segments.

Does regex support Unicode characters and emojis?▼

Yes, enable Unicode support with the u flag in JavaScript or default Unicode handling in Python 3. This ensures correct matching of UTF-8 characters, emojis, and international text that basic ASCII patterns would miss.

When should I use a library instead of writing a custom regex?▼

Prefer dedicated libraries like URL parsers or email validators for very complex patterns instead of reinventing the wheel. Custom regex is appropriate for simpler, well-defined formats such as dates, phone numbers, or IDs.