Question

I wanted to know how I can specify character count for my regex.
I have the correct regex, I only need to make sure this will work validating zero to fourty characters.

here is the regex

$fnameRegex = "/^[a-zA-Z0-9{0,40}-_]+$/";

i might have put the {0,40} in the wrong place.

Answer 1

Try

$fnameRegex = "/^[a-zA-Z0-9\-_]{0,40}$/";

Everything in a character class [] will only match one character. You put the quantity limiter outside it (you previously had + which is 1 or more – replace it with {0, 40} which is between 0 and 40).

Also I escaped your - character in your character class, or else it will be interpreted as a range.

I also recommend to you the great regexr website which is good for interactively playing around with regex.