About the URL Validator
URL Validator runs a URL through a series of syntax checks — parseability, scheme, host shape, presence of a plausible top-level domain, whitespace, trailing junk and overall length — and reports each as a pass or fail with an explanation. It's a syntax check, not a live connectivity test.
How to use it
- 01Paste the URL you want to check.
- 02Review the checklist; each row explains why it passed or failed.
- 03Fix flagged issues such as stray whitespace or a missing scheme, then re-check.
Features
- Checks whitespace, parseability, scheme, host shape, TLD presence and length
- Flags non-http(s) schemes without treating them as automatically invalid
- Notes when a hostname appears to use punycode/IDN encoding
- Detects likely-accidental trailing characters from copy-pasting
Practical examples
Catching a pasted trailing space
A URL copied from a chat message often has a trailing space; the checklist flags this immediately as a whitespace failure.
Spotting a missing TLD
Entering 'http://localhost' correctly fails the TLD check, useful for confirming a URL isn't meant for public use.
Limitations
- This tool validates syntax only — it does not fetch the URL, so it cannot confirm the page actually exists or loads.
- TLD detection is heuristic and won't recognise every valid but unusual top-level domain.
Privacy
All checks run locally using string inspection and the URL API. No network request is made and nothing is sent to a server.
Read the full privacy policy for how the site as a whole handles data.
Frequently asked questions
Does a failing check mean the link is broken?
No — this only checks syntax. A syntactically valid URL can still 404 or be unreachable.
Why does it flag ftp:// URLs?
It flags any non-http(s) scheme so you're aware, without treating it as inherently wrong.
Does it check for malware or phishing?
No, it has no way to assess safety or reputation, only whether the address is well-formed.