Regular Expressions 101

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An explanation of your regex will be automatically generated as you type.
Detailed match information will be displayed here automatically.
  • All Tokens
  • Common Tokens
  • General Tokens
  • Anchors
  • Meta Sequences
  • Quantifiers
  • Group Constructs
  • Character Classes
  • Flags/Modifiers
  • Substitution
  • A single character of: a, b or c
    [abc]
  • A character except: a, b or c
    [^abc]
  • A character in the range: a-z
    [a-z]
  • A character not in the range: a-z
    [^a-z]
  • A character in the range: a-z or A-Z
    [a-zA-Z]
  • Any single character
    .
  • Alternate - match either a or b
    a|b
  • Any whitespace character
    \s
  • Any non-whitespace character
    \S
  • Any digit
    \d
  • Any non-digit
    \D
  • Any word character
    \w
  • Any non-word character
    \W
  • Non-capturing group
    (?:...)
  • Capturing group
    (...)
  • Zero or one of a
    a?
  • Zero or more of a
    a*
  • One or more of a
    a+
  • Exactly 3 of a
    a{3}
  • 3 or more of a
    a{3,}
  • Between 3 and 6 of a
    a{3,6}
  • Start of string
    ^
  • End of string
    $
  • A word boundary
    \b
  • Non-word boundary
    \B

Regular Expression

/
/
gs

Test String

Substitution

Processing...

Code Generator

Generated Code

import java.util.regex.Matcher; import java.util.regex.Pattern; public class Example { public static void main(String[] args) { final String regex = "\\s*<(attribute|measure)(?=.+?id=\"(\\w+)\").+?>(?=.+?columnName=\"(?:4Z\\w+_)?(\\w+)\").*?<\\/\\1>"; final String string = " <attribute id=\"VENDOR_NUMBER\" order=\"1\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Vendor\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0VENDOR\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"VENDOR_NAME\" order=\"2\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Vendor Name (Text)\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0VENDOR___T\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"COMPANY_CODE\" order=\"3\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Company Code\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0COMP_CODE\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"COMPANY_CODE_TXT\" order=\"4\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Company Code (Text)\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0COMP_CODE___T\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"CREATED_BY\" order=\"5\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Created By\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0CREATEDBY\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"DATE_CREATED_TXT\" order=\"6\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Date Created (Text)\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0CREATEDON\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"DOCUMENT_TYPE\" order=\"8\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Document Type\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0DOCTYPE\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"DOCUMENT_CATEGORY\" order=\"9\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Document Category\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0DOC_CAT\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"DOCUMENT_CURRENCY\" order=\"10\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Document Currency\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0DOC_CURRCY\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"DOCUMENT_CUR_TXT\" order=\"11\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Document Currency (Text)\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0DOC_CURRCY___T\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"DOCUMENT_DATE_TXT\" order=\"12\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Document Date (Text)\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0DOC_DATE\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"PO_DOCUMENT_NUMBER\" order=\"14\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Document Number\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0DOC_NUM\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"INCOTERMS_1\" order=\"15\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Incoterms Part 1\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0INCOTERMS\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"INCOTERMS_1_TXT\" order=\"16\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Incoterms Part 1 (Text)\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0INCOTERMS___T\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"INCOTERMS_2\" order=\"17\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Incoterms Part 2\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0INCOTERMS2\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"INVOICE_PARTY\" order=\"18\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Invoicing Party\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0INV_PARTY\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"INVOICE_PARTY_TXT\" order=\"19\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Invoicing Party (Text)\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0INV_PARTY___T\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"MODE_OF_TRANSPORTATION\" order=\"20\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Mode of Transport\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0OI_MOT\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"ORIGIN_COUNTRY\" order=\"21\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Country of Origin\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0OI_OLAND1\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"ORGIN_REGION_OR_STATE\" order=\"22\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Region or State of Origin\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0OI_OREGIO\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"PAYMENT_TERMS\" order=\"23\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Terms of Payment\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0PMNTTRMS\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"PAYMENT_TERMS_TXT\" order=\"24\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Terms of Payment (Text)\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0PMNTTRMS___T\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"PURCHASING_ORG\" order=\"25\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Purchasing Organization\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0PURCH_ORG\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"PURCHASING_ORG_TXT\" order=\"26\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Purchasing Organization (Text)\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0PURCH_ORG___T\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"PURCHASING_GROUP\" order=\"27\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Purchasing Group\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0PUR_GROUP\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"PURCHASING_GROUP_TXT\" order=\"28\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Purchasing Group (Text)\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0PUR_GROUP___T\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"DESTINATION_COUNTRY\" order=\"29\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Destination Country\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0RECIPCNTRY\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"DESTINATION_COUNTRY_TXT\" order=\"30\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Destination Country (Text)\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0RECIPCNTRY___T\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"SUPPLYING_PLANT\" order=\"31\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Supplying Plant\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0SUPP_PLANT\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"SUPPLYING_PLANT_TXT\" order=\"32\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Supplying Plant (Text)\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0SUPP_PLANT___T\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"RELEASE_IND\" order=\"33\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Release Indicator: Purchasing Document\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"4ZMMCP012_FRGKE\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"REL_NOT_COMPLETLY_EFFECTED\" order=\"34\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Release Not Yet Completely Effected\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"4ZMMCP012_FRGRL\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"YOUR_REFERENCE\" order=\"35\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Your Reference\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"4ZMMCP012_IHREZ\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"OUR_REFERENCE\" order=\"36\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Our Reference\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"ZP_UNSEZ\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"EXCH_RATE_FIXED_INDICATOR\" order=\"37\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Indicator: Fixing of Exchange Rate\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"4ZMMCP012_KUFIX\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"PO_PROCESSING_STATUS\" order=\"38\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Purchasing Document Processing State\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"4ZMMCP012_PROCSTAT\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"TOT_VALUE_AT_FULL_PO_APPROVAL\" order=\"39\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Total Value at Time of Release\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"4ZMMCP012_RLWRT\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"VAT_REGISTRATION_NUMBER\" order=\"40\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"VAT Registration Number\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"4ZMMCP012_STCEG\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"COLLECTIVE_NUMBER\" order=\"41\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Collective Number\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"4ZMMCP012_SUBMI\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"RELEASE_STATUS\" order=\"42\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Release Status\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"ZP_FRGZU\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"RELEASE_GROUP\" order=\"43\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Release Group\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"ZRELGRP\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"RELEASE_STRATEGY\" order=\"44\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Release Strategy\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"ZRELSTR\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"EXCHANGE_RATE\" order=\"45\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Exchange Rate for Pricing &amp; Statistics\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"0EXCHG_RATE\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <attribute id=\"__AP_CHECK_INT\" order=\"47\" attributeHierarchyActive=\"false\" displayAttribute=\"false\" transparentFilter=\"false\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"__AP_CHECK_INT\"/>\n" + " <keyMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"__AP_CHECK_INT\"/>\n" + " </attribute>\n" + " <measure id=\"ROWCOUNT\" order=\"46\" aggregationType=\"sum\" measureType=\"simple\">\n" + " <descriptions defaultDescription=\"Number of Records\"/>\n" + " <measureMapping columnObjectName=\"PO_HEADER_UNION\" columnName=\"1ROWCOUNT\"/>\n" + " </measure>"; final String subst = "\\3,\\2\\n"; final Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile(regex, Pattern.DOTALL); final Matcher matcher = pattern.matcher(string); // The substituted value will be contained in the result variable final String result = matcher.replaceAll(subst); System.out.println("Substitution result: " + result); } }

Please keep in mind that these code samples are automatically generated and are not guaranteed to work. If you find any syntax errors, feel free to submit a bug report. For a full regex reference for Java, please visit: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/util/regex/Pattern.html