Using Regex and Javascript to extract the base URL from a string

Question

Using Regex and Javascript to extract the base URL from a string

I am attempting to extract the base URL from a string without using window.location.

It must eliminate the trailing slash
It must be done using regex instead of New URL
It should handle query parameters and anchor links

In essence, all of the following examples should result in https://apple.com or https://www.apple.com for the last one.

https://apple.com?query=true&slash=false

https://apple.com#anchor=true&slash=false

http://www.apple.com/#anchor=true&slash=true&whatever=foo

These are just sample URLs, variations like

https://shop.apple.co.uk/?query=foo

should yield https://shop.apple.co.uk - It could be any URL like: https://foo.bar

The closest I've gotten is with:

const baseUrl = url.replace(/^((\w+:)?\/\/[^\/]+\/?).*$/,'$1').replace(/\/$/, ""); // Base Path & Trailing slash

However, this solution fails when dealing with anchor links and queries that directly follow the URL without a preceding /.

Do you have any suggestions on how to make it work for all scenarios?

javascript regex

Answer 1

Answer №1

If you include # and ? in your negated character class, there is no need for using .* as it will match until the end of the string.

To handle your example data, you can use the following pattern to match:

^https?:\/\/[^#?\/]+

Check out the regex demo here

strings = [
"https://apple.com?query=true&slash=false",
    "https://apple.com#anchor=true&slash=false",
    "http://www.apple.com/#anchor=true&slash=true&whatever=foo",
    "https://foo.bar/?q=true"
];

strings.forEach(s => {
    console.log(s.match(/^https?:\/\/[^#?\/]+/)[0]);
})

Answer 2

If you include # and ? in your negated character class, there is no need for using .* as it will match until the end of the string.

To handle your example data, you can use the following pattern to match:

^https?:\/\/[^#?\/]+

Check out the regex demo here

strings = [
"https://apple.com?query=true&slash=false",
    "https://apple.com#anchor=true&slash=false",
    "http://www.apple.com/#anchor=true&slash=true&whatever=foo",
    "https://foo.bar/?q=true"
];

strings.forEach(s => {
    console.log(s.match(/^https?:\/\/[^#?\/]+/)[0]);
})

Answer 3

Answer №2

If you want an easier way to extract information from URLs, consider using Web API's built-in URL. It provides convenient access to parsed properties like query string parameters and protocols.

Using regex for this task can be needlessly complicated compared to the straightforward approach offered by the browser.

While I understand your question about regex usage, for those who prioritize simplicity in retrieving URL data over sticking with regex, this alternative method could prove helpful.

let one = "https://apple.com?query=true&slash=false"
let two = "https://apple.com#anchor=true&slash=false"
let three = "http://www.apple.com/#anchor=true&slash=true&whatever=foo"

let urlOne = new URL(one)
console.log(urlOne.origin)

let urlTwo = new URL(two)
console.log(urlTwo.origin)

let urlThree = new URL(three)
console.log(urlThree.origin)

Answer 4

If you want an easier way to extract information from URLs, consider using Web API's built-in URL. It provides convenient access to parsed properties like query string parameters and protocols.

Using regex for this task can be needlessly complicated compared to the straightforward approach offered by the browser.

While I understand your question about regex usage, for those who prioritize simplicity in retrieving URL data over sticking with regex, this alternative method could prove helpful.

let one = "https://apple.com?query=true&slash=false"
let two = "https://apple.com#anchor=true&slash=false"
let three = "http://www.apple.com/#anchor=true&slash=true&whatever=foo"

let urlOne = new URL(one)
console.log(urlOne.origin)

let urlTwo = new URL(two)
console.log(urlTwo.origin)

let urlThree = new URL(three)
console.log(urlThree.origin)

Answer 5

Answer №3

    let mainUrl = url.replace(/(.*:\/\/.*)[\?\/#].*/, '$1');

Answer 6

    let mainUrl = url.replace(/(.*:\/\/.*)[\?\/#].*/, '$1');

Answer 7

Answer №4

If you want to extract everything before the .com section of a URL, you can use the following code snippet. Just remember to add .com back to the extracted part afterwards.

^http.*?(?=\.com)

Alternatively, you could try:

myUrl.Replace(/(#|\?|\/#).*$/, "")

This will remove anything after the host name in the URL.

Answer 8

If you want to extract everything before the .com section of a URL, you can use the following code snippet. Just remember to add .com back to the extracted part afterwards.

^http.*?(?=\.com)

Alternatively, you could try:

myUrl.Replace(/(#|\?|\/#).*$/, "")

This will remove anything after the host name in the URL.

Using Regex and Javascript to extract the base URL from a string

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

Answer №4

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