How Can I Verify An Email Address That Is Entered On My Web Form?

[craig2u]

Sometime my visitors mistype their email address. I want to verify it so their message is not delivered until the email field is ok. Something like checking for @ character, etc.

[Ed]

PHP5 comes with a fantastic little filter library:

CODE

if(filter_var($email, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL))
{
    // Email format is correct
}

If you're not on Zymic hosting you can extend the check to start a smtp session with the domain's mail exchange servers and check the email address actually exists. This method isn't full proof if someone sets their MX records to point to a mailserver which has been setup as a relay.

Email verification is the best method to ensure the mailbox actually exists.