Validating emails in WordPress using is_email

The is_email function is a built-in feature of WordPress. This function is primarily used to validate whether a given string is a properly formatted email address or not. It checks the syntax of the email address, ensuring that it adheres to the standards set by the Internet Engineering Task Force in the RFC 5322 document.

This can be particularly useful in a variety of scenarios, such as when a website owner wants to ensure that users are providing valid email addresses during registration, or when a form on a website requires user’s email as an input. By using the is_email function, the system can automatically verify the format of the email address before it is saved or used in any way, thereby preventing potential issues that could arise from incorrectly formatted email addresses.

It’s important to note that while the is_email function checks the format of the email address, it does not verify whether the email address actually exists or if it’s active. This would require a separate verification process.

Parameters Accepted by the WordPress is_email Function

The is_email function in WordPress accepts two parameters. These parameters are:

  • $email (string) – This is a mandatory parameter. It corresponds to the email address that needs to be validated.
  • $deprecated (boolean) – This parameter is optional and its default value is set to false. It is a deprecated parameter, which means it is no longer recommended for use in the function.

Return Value of the WordPress is_email Function

The is_email function in WordPress returns a specific type of value based on the success or failure of the operation. If the function successfully verifies the email address, it will return the valid email address as a string. However, if the function fails to verify the email address, it will return false.

Examples

Example 1: How to Validate an Email Address

$email = '[email protected]';
if (is_email($email)) {
 echo '<p>Email is valid.</p>';
} else {
 echo '<p>Email is not valid.</p>';
}

In this example, the is_email() function is used to check if the email address stored in the $email variable is valid. If the email is valid, it prints “Email is valid.” If the email is not valid, it prints “Email is not valid.”

Example 2: How to Check and Sanitize an Email Address

$email = '[email protected]';
if (is_email($email)) {
 $email = sanitize_email($email);
 echo '<p>Email is valid and sanitized: ' . $email . '</p>';
} else {
 echo '<p>Email is not valid.</p>';
}

In this example, we first check if the email stored in the $email variable is valid using the is_email() function. If the email is valid, we then sanitize it using the sanitize_email() function to remove any illegal characters. The sanitized email is then printed. If the email is not valid, it simply prints “Email is not valid.”

Conclusion

The is_email function serves as a practical tool for validating email addresses in a range of software applications. It is designed to check whether a given string adheres to the standard format of an email address, thus ensuring the accuracy and reliability of user-provided email data. By utilizing the is_email function, developers can effectively prevent invalid email addresses from being entered into their systems, thereby maintaining the integrity of their user databases and facilitating effective communication with users.

Related WordPress Functions

in WordPress Functions