Is there a reason to validate an email address? Even if it is valid, you can't use it for anything until you check that the right person owns it and is able to read mail you send there.
I personally accept any string that is between 3 bytes and 1 kilobyte, if they click the link in it then it's good.
As that website I linked says, if the email looks suspicious but is technically valid, ask them "Are you sure you didn't mean this?", but let them choose what they put in.
However, if the address as given is definitely invalid, then you can reject it and explain why. You can offer suggestions here too if any seem reasonable.
Comments
Is there a reason to validate an email address? Even if it is valid, you can't use it for anything until you check that the right person owns it and is able to read mail you send there.
I personally accept any string that is between 3 bytes and 1 kilobyte, if they click the link in it then it's good.
Yes - you validate the email address to improve your UX.
It reduces the odds of the user giving you a wrong email address then having to either jump through more hoops to get signed up or give up.
You're absolutely right that the acid test is "can they receive email to it?"
For UX purposes you would use a warning/extra confirmation. If you make the decision to block the user from registering, you are doing something else.
Yeah, precisely.
As that website I linked says, if the email looks suspicious but is technically valid, ask them "Are you sure you didn't mean this?", but let them choose what they put in.
However, if the address as given is definitely invalid, then you can reject it and explain why. You can offer suggestions here too if any seem reasonable.