Suped

Summary

Validating email accounts at the code level goes beyond simple syntax checks. While essential for initial filtering, a purely code-based approach, especially one relying solely on regular expressions (regex), often falls short of identifying truly problematic or non-existent email addresses. Effective code-level validation typically involves a combination of methods, including basic format checks, domain validation, and more advanced techniques that might integrate with external services or leverage behavioral data.

What email marketers say

Email marketers often face the challenge of managing 'dirty lists' containing suspicious or malformed email addresses. While the immediate thought might be to tackle these at the code level using regular expressions or other programming logic, marketers emphasize that purely technical validation has its limits. Their insights often point towards a multi-faceted approach, combining initial code-based checks with strategic list management practices.

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that using confirmed opt-in is the most effective method to maintain a clean email list, significantly reducing the presence of bogus or mistyped addresses.

14 Oct 2020 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

A marketer from MailerSend.com indicates that while regex can help clean up common typos like '.con' instead of '.com', it is not sufficient to determine if an email address is truly active or valid beyond its format. They also suggest using APIs for bulk validation of suspicious lists.

10 Aug 2023 - MailerSend.com

What the experts say

Experts in email deliverability and anti-spam often provide nuanced perspectives on code-level email validation. While acknowledging the utility of programmatic checks, they consistently highlight the limitations of purely syntax-based methods, especially when dealing with sophisticated spam or bot-generated addresses. Their advice frequently pivots towards combining technical validation with behavioral insights and robust user acquisition strategies.

Expert view

Deliverability expert from Email Geeks states that Python offers several libraries with methods specifically designed to validate email address syntax, suggesting that similar functionalities likely exist within PHP as well.

14 Oct 2020 - Email Geeks

Expert view

An email expert from Word to the Wise notes that while a visually suspicious email might raise concerns, it does not necessarily mean the account is technically invalid according to email standards.

20 May 2023 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says

Official documentation and technical guides provide fundamental principles and specific code-level methods for email validation. They outline the syntax rules defined by RFCs and common programming patterns to implement these checks. However, they also implicitly acknowledge that strict adherence to RFCs can sometimes be too permissive for practical anti-abuse purposes, necessitating additional layers of validation that go beyond mere format adherence.

Technical article

Documentation from GeeksforGeeks describes regular expressions as a fundamental method for email validation in JavaScript, capable of performing simple, yet effective, format checks.

17 Feb 2024 - GeeksforGeeks

Technical article

CyberPanel's documentation notes that HTML5 provides an integrated method for email form validation via the type="email" attribute, allowing browsers to automatically verify the basic format.

01 Oct 2024 - CyberPanel

13 resources

Start improving your email deliverability today

Get started