URL

`URL.canParse`

Returns a boolean indicating whether or not the given URL string can be parsed into a valid URL

Syntax

JavaScript

URL.canParse(url, base?)

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description
url	string	The URL string to test
base	string	An optional base URL to resolve against

Return Value

true if the URL can be parsed, false otherwise

Examples

Basic Usage

console.log(URL.canParse('https://example.com')) // true
console.log(URL.canParse('not a url')) // false

Practical Example

const urls = ['https://example.com', 'bad', '/path']
const valid = urls.filter(u => URL.canParse(u))
console.log(valid)

Advanced Usage

function safeUrl(input: string, base?: string): URL | null {
  if (URL.canParse(input, base)) {
    return new URL(input, base)
  }
  return null
}

Understanding URL.canParse

The URL.canParse method in JavaScript returns a boolean indicating whether or not the given URL string can be parsed into a valid URL. It belongs to the URL object and is one of the most widely used methods for working with url values in modern JavaScript and TypeScript applications.

The method signature is URL.canParse(url, base?). It accepts 2 parameters: url, base. When called, it returns true if the url can be parsed, false otherwise. Understanding when and how to use canParse() helps you write more expressive, readable code.

Common use cases for URL.canParse include data transformation, input validation, API response processing, and building reusable utility functions. It works well alongside related methods like url-href, url-tostring, enabling you to chain operations together for complex data manipulation pipelines.

Supported in Chrome 120+, Firefox 115+, Safari 17+, Edge 120+, Node.js 20+.