regexNamedBackreferences

Reports backreferences that do not use the name of their referenced capturing group.

✅ This rule is included in the ts stylisticStrict presets.

When a capturing group has a name (e.g., (?<name>...)), backreferences to that group should use the named syntax \k<name> instead of the numeric syntax \1. Named backreferences are more readable and maintainable, especially when regex patterns change over time.

This rule reports backreferences that do not use the name of their referenced capturing group.

Examples

❌ Incorrect

const pattern = /(?<word>\w+)\s+\1/;

const pattern = /(?<first>a)(?<second>b)\1\2/;

✅ Correct

const pattern = /(?<word>\w+)\s+\k<word>/;

const pattern = /(?<first>a)(?<second>b)\k<first>\k<second>/;

// Unnamed groups can use numeric backreferences
const pattern = /(a)\1/;

Options

This rule is not configurable.

When Not To Use It

If you prefer the brevity of numeric backreferences, or if your codebase has established conventions around using numeric backreferences even for named groups, you might prefer to disable this rule. Some teams find numeric backreferences more familiar from other regex dialects.

Further Reading

• MDN: Regular expressions - Backreference
• MDN: Regular expressions - Named capturing group

Equivalents in Other Linters

• ESLint: regexp/prefer-named-backreference