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infoWordPress Core•webwordpresserrorerrorerrorwp_errorwarningvalidation•star_halfUncommon•warningModerate

WP_Error: Invalid site URL

The error occurs when WordPress cannot parse the domain or path supplied to site creation or update functions. Validation fails because the URL is malformed, uses an unsupported protocol, or does not resolve on the server.

Core validation logic flags the data and returns the code site_invalid_url. The error stops the operation and displays a notice in the admin interface or API response.

Symptoms

[dashicons-warning]
Admin notice
Error message appears at the top of the site creation or settings page.
[dashicons-admin-site]
Form reload
The site creation form reloads and the Save button stays disabled.
[dashicons-rest-api]
API response
REST API returns a JSON object with code "invalid_site_url".

Common Causes

Missing domain or path
The data passed to wp_insert_site or wp_update_site lacks a valid domain or path field.
Incorrect protocol
URL uses http instead of https or contains extra characters that break wp_parse_url.
DNS resolution failure
The domain does not resolve on the server, causing WordPress to treat it as invalid.
Custom hooks altering data
Plugins or mu‑plugins modify $data['domain'] or $data['path'] and return a bad value.
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