Regular Expressions 101

Save & Share

  • Regex Version: ver. 1
  • Update Regex
    ctrl+⇧+s
  • Save new Regex
    ctrl+s
  • Add to Community Library

Flavor

  • PCRE2 (PHP >=7.3)
  • PCRE (PHP <7.3)
  • ECMAScript (JavaScript)
  • Python
  • Golang
  • Java 8
  • .NET 7.0 (C#)
  • Rust
  • Regex Flavor Guide

Function

  • Match
  • Substitution
  • List
  • Unit Tests

Tools

Sponsors
There are currently no sponsors. Become a sponsor today!
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

@
@
siUg

Test String

Code Generator

Generated Code

$re = '@\[url=.*\[/url\]@siU'; $str = '[URL="www.example.com"] UPDATE[/URL] 07-Ghost [HD 720p] .Hack// Gift .Hack// Returner .Hack// Root [HD 720p] .Hack//Liminality .Hack//Quantum [BD 1080p] .Hack//Sekai No Mukou Ni [BD 1080p][10 Bit] .hack//Sign .hack//Tasogare no Udewa Densetsu .hack∕∕G.U. Trilogy [Blu-ray 1080p] 1+2 = Paradise 1001 Nights [ No Sub] 11 Eyes + OVA [Blu-ray 720p] 12-Sai. ~Kiss, Kirai, Suki~ OVA 2x2 shinobuten 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother 30-sai no Hoken Taiiku [Blu-ray 720p] 3x3 Eyes OVA 1 3x3 Eyes OVA 2 5 Centimeter Per Second [BD 1080p] 6 Angel 8 Man - After The Perfect Collection [Engdub] A Letter to Momo [BD 1080p] A Little Snow Fairy Sugar Special A Piece of Phantasmogaria [DVD Version] [10 bits] A Restaurant of Many Orders A Tree Of Palme A.D. Police A.LI.CE AA! Megami-sama - Sorezore no Tsubasa [Update to better Version] AA! Megami-sama - Takakau Tsubasa AA! Megami-sama / Ah My Goddess AA! Megami-sama OVA AA! Megami-sama Special / Ah My Goddess Special Accel World [Blu-ray 720p] Accel World EX + SPECIAL [Blu-ray 720p-1080p] Acchi Kocchi [Blu-ray 720p] Ace wo Nerae! The Movie : Best! (Aim For The Ace The Movie) A-Channel + Special [Blu-ray Version 108p] Adieu Galaxy Express 999 Aeon Flux - Deutoronopia, End Sinister,Ether Drift Theory,Reraizure [No Sub/Eng Dub] Afro - Ken Afro Samurai Movie [BD 720p] Afro Samurai Resurrection [BD 1080p] After School In The Teachers Lounge Ova 1 & Ova 2 After School Pleiades Agent Aika Naked Mission Agent Aika Naked Mission - Special Trials [LQ] Ah, My Beautifull Girl Mary Ai Mai Mi [HD 720p] Ai Mai! Moe Can Change! OVA Ai Yori Aoshi Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi Ai Yori Aoshi Miyuki Aika R-16 Virgin Mission Aika Zero OVA [HD 720p] Aikatsu! [HD 720p] Aim for the Ace! Air [BD 720p] [10 bits] Air Gear + Special Air Master Air Summer Special Air Theatrical Feature Aishiteruze Baby Aiura [Blu-ray 720p] Aiura [HD 1080p] Ajimu Kaigan Monogatari Akage No Anne Akage No Anne Parody Akagi Akahori Gedou Hour Rabuge Akai Kiba Blue Sonnet Akane Maniax Akane-Iro ni Somaeu Saka + OVA Akazukin Cha Cha Akazukin Cha Cha OVA AKB0048 [Blu-ray 720p] AKB0048 Next Stage [Blu-ray 720p] Aki Sora ~In a Dream~ Aki Sora OVA Akikan + OVA Akira Akira Special Edition Aku no Hana [HD 1080p] Aku No Hana [Blu-ray 1080p] Alakazam The Great Movie Alexander Senki Alien 9 Allison to Lilia Always My Santa Amaenaideyo Amaenaideyo Katsu Amagami SS [BD 720p] Amagami SS Special Amagami SS+ [BD 1080p] [10 bits] Amainaide Yo! Amatsuki Amazing Nurse Nanako Amazing Nuts! Amnesia [Blu-ray 720p] Amnesia [HD 720p] Amon Saga Amon The Devil Apocalypse / Amon - Apocalypse of Devilman Ancient Book of Ys Ancient Book of Ys II Angel Beats [BD 1080p] Angel Cop Angel Heart Angel Links Angel Sanctuary Angelic Layer Angelique - Memoir of White Wings Angelique - When The Heart Awakens Angelique ~Kagayaki no Ashita~ OVA Angel\'s Egg Angel\'s Feather Ova 1 & Ova 2 Angel\'s Tail Ani Kuri [HD 1080p] Animal Crossing Animal Detective kiruminzoo [HD 720p] Animation Runner Kuromi Animatrix (2003) Anime Mirai 2010 (Project A) - Ojisan No Lamp [HD 720p] Anime Mirai 2010 (Project A) - Super Veggie Torracman [HD 720p] Anime Mirai 2010 (Project A) - Wardrobe Dweller [HD 720p] Anime Mirai 2010 (Project A) - Kizuna Ichigeki [HD 720p] Anime Mirai 2012 - Buta [HD 720p] Anime Mirai 2012 - Dudu the Floatie [HD 720p] Anime Mirai 2012 - Minding My Own Business [HD 720p] Anime Mirai 2012 - Wasurenagumo [HD 720p] Anime Mirai 2013 - Arve Rezzle -Kikaijikake no Yoseitachi— [Blu-ray 720p] Anime Mirai 2013 - Death Billiards [Blu-ray 1080p] Anime Mirai 2013 - Little Witch Academia [Blu-ray 1080p] Anime Mirai 2013 - RYO [Blu-ray 1080p] Anime Mirai 2014 - Chronus [HD 1080p] Anime Mirai 2014 - Harmonie [Blu-ray 1080p] Anime Sanjushi (Three Musketeers) Anju to Zushiou Maru Ankokushin Densho Takegami Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai [BD 1080p] [10 bits] Ano Ko ni 1000% - OVA Ano Natsu De Matteru / Waiting in the Summer [BD 1080p] Anokoku Shinwa [Dub English / Nos Sub] Another : The Other -Inga- [Another Ova Ep.00] [BD 720p] Another [BD 720p] [10 bits] Antique Bakery [HD 720p] Antique Heart OVA + Extra Anyamal Tantei Kiruminzoo [HD 720p] Ao no Exorcist - Kuro no Iede [BD 720p] Ao no Exorcist [BD 720p] Ao No Exorcist The Movie [BD 720p] Aoi Bungaku [BD 720p] Aoi Hana [HD 720p] Aoi Sekai no Chuushin de [HD 1080p] Aoki Densetsu Shoot ! Appleseed (OVA) Appleseed The Movie 2004 Appleseed XIII [BD 1080p] Aquarian Age Aquarian Age Omake Aquarian Age Saga II ~ Don\'t Forget Me... ~ Aquarion Evol [Blu-ray 720p] Ar Tonelico OVA Araisho Private High School Student Council Executive Committee OVA Arakawa Under The Bridge [BD 720p] Arakawa Under The Bridge x Bridge [BD 720p] Arashi no Yoru ni [Blu-ray Version 720p] Arata Kangatari [HD 1080p] Arata-naru Sekai - World\'s/Start/Load/End - Future [BD 720p] Arc The Lad Arcade Gamer Fubuki Arcadia Of My Youth Arcana Famiglia [HD 720p] Area 88 Argento Soma Argento Soma - Phase Ex Aria The Animation Aria The Natural Aria The Origination Aria The OVA : Ariette Ariel Visual OVA Arion Armed Librarians - The Book of Bantorra (Tatakau Shinso) Armitage III Armitage III : Dual Matrix [No Sub/Eng Dub] Armitage III : Poly Matrix [No Sub/Eng Dub] Armitage III OVA Armor Hunter Mellowlink Armor soldier Merrowlink OVA 1 Armored Fleet Dairugger XV Armored Troopers Votoms - Alone Again [Blu-ray 1080p] Armored Troopers Votoms - Big Battle Armored Troopers Votoms - Case;IRVINE [Bluray 1080p] Armored Troopers Votoms - Finder [Blu-ray 1080p] Armored Troopers Votoms - Pailsen Files Armored Troopers Votoms Movie - The Last Red Shoulder [LQ] Armored Troopers Votoms Stage I Armored Troopers Votoms Stage II Armored Troopers Votoms Stage III Arpeggio of Blue Steel - Ars Nova [HD 1080p] Arrow Emblem - Super Grand Prix - Special [No Sub/English Dub] Arslan Senki Art Of Fighting Asa Made Jugyou Chu! OVA [BD 1080p] Asagiri No Miko Asatte no Houkou Ashita No Joe [HD 720p] Ask Dr. Rin! Asobi ni Iku Yo! [BD 720p] Asobi ni Iku Yo! Asobi ni Oide OVA [BD 720p] Assassination Classroom - OVA Assassination Classroom (OVA) Assemble Insert (ova) Association Robot Goku Astarotte no Omocha! (BD 720p) Astarotte no Omocha! EX (BD 720p) Astro Fighter Sunred + Suplement Asu no Yoichi Asura [Blu-ray 720p] Asura\'s Crying [720p] Asura\'s Crying 2nd [720p] Atama Yama Aura - Maryuuinkouga Saigo no Tatakai [Blu-ray 1080p] Aura Battler Dunbine Aurora Avatar The Last Airbender : Book 1 water,Book 2 Earth,Book 3 Fire Avatar The Legend of Korra : Book Water [HD 720p] Avenger Ayakashi Ayakashi Japanese Classic Horror Ayane\'s High Kick Ayashi No Ceres Azumanga Daioh Azumanga Daioh Very Short Movie Azumanga Daioh Web B Gata H Kei [Blu-ray 720p] Babel II Beyond Infinity Episode Baby Love Baccano [BD 1080p] Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu [BD 720p] Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Matsuri [BD 720p] Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni! [BD 1080p] [10 bits] Bakemonogatari [Blu-ray 720p] Bakugan Battle Brawlers [ No Sub/Eng Dub] Bakuman 1 [HD 720p] Bakuman 2 [HD 720p][10 Bits] Bakuman 3 [HD 720p] BAKUMATSU GIJINDEN ROMAN [HD 720p] Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto Bakuretsu Hunter OVA Bakuretsu Tenshi Bakuretsu Tenshi Infinity Baldr Force Exe Resolution Bamboo Blade Banner of the Stars Bannou Bunka Neko Musume Nuku - Nuku Dash Bannou Bunka Neko Musume Nuku - Nuku OVA Bannou Bunka Neko Musume Nuku - Nuku TV Series BAOH The Movie Barefoot Gen Bari Bari Densetsu - Movie Bartender [HD 720p] Basilisk Basquash! [HD 720p] Bastard Battle Angel Battle Angel Alita Battle Arena Toshinden Battle B-Daman [English DUB-No Sub] Battle Girls - Time Paradox [BD 720p] Battle Programmer Shirase Battle Royal High School Battle Skipper Battle Spirits - Shounen Toppa Bashin Bavel No Hon Bayonetta - Bloody Fate [Blu-ray 720p] BB Fish Beck [BD 1080p] Beelzebub [HD 720p] Beet The Vandel Buster Beet The Vandel Buster Excellion Ben-To [BD 720p] Berserk Berserk Golden Age Chapter I - Egg of the Supreme Ruler [BD 1080p] [10 bits] Berserk Golden Age Chapter II - The Capture of Doldrey [Blu-ray 1080p] Berserk Golden Age Chapter III - Advent [Blu-ray 1080p] Berserk Outtakes [No Sub/Eng Dub] Betterman Beyblade Season 1 [English DUB-No Sub] Beyblade Season 2 [English DUB-No Sub] Beyblade Season 3 [English DUB-No Sub] Beyblade The Movie - Decisive Battle! Takao VS Daichi [No Sub/English DUB] Beyblade The Movie 2 - Sol Blaze, The Scorching Hot Invader! Beyond The Clouds The Promised Place [BD 1080p] Big Wars Binbou Shimai Monogatari Binbougami ga! [BD 720p][10 Bits] Binchotan Binchou Tan OVA : Aozora Ni Wasuremono+Marching Song Bio Hunter Birdy The Mighty Decode Birdy The Mighty OVA Black Blood Brothers Black Cat Black Heaven Black Jack 21 Black Jack OVA Black Jack Special - Lost Episodes Black Jack The Movie Black Jack The Movie - Dr. Pinoco Adventure Black Jack The Movie - Two Doctors Of Darkness Black Jack TV Series Black Lagoon [BD 720p] Black Lagoon Omake Short Black Lagoon OVA - Roberta\'s Blood Trail [BD 720p] Black Lagoon The Second Barrage [BD 720p] Black Magic M66 Movie Black Rock Shooter [BD 720p][10 bits] Black Rock Shooter Ova [BD 1080p] Blade Blade of the Phantom Master Blame +Extra Blassreister [HD 720p] BlazBlue - Alter Memory [HD 720p] Blazing Transfer Student (Honoo No Tenkousei) Bleach Bleach Movie 1: Memories of Nobody [BD 1080p] Bleach Movie 3: Fade to Black [BD 1080p] Bleach Movie 4: The Hell Verse [BD 720p] Bleach OVA : The Sealed Sword Frenzy Blood Lad [HD 720p] Blood Lad EX [Blu-ray 720p] Blood Reign Blood The Last Vampire [No Sub-Eng Dub] Blood+ Blood-C [BD 720p] [10 bits] Blood-C Movie - The Last Dark [BD 1080p] Blossom [BD 1080p] Blue Dragon - Tenkai no Shichi Ryuu Blue Drop Blue Flames OVA 1989 Blue Gender Blue Seed Blue Seed 2 Blue Seed Omake Blue Submarine No 6 [HD 720p] Body Jack OVA Boku no Imouto wa Osaka Okan [HD 720p] Boku No Marie Boku No Sexual Harassment (Yaoi) Boku Otaryman Boku Wa Imouto Ni Koi Wo Suru Boku Wa Konomana Kaeranai Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai [BD 720p] Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai NEXT [Blu-ray 720p] Bokura Ga Ita [DVD Version] Bokurano Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan (OVA) Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan 2 (OVA) Boogiepop Phantom Boogiepop Phantom OVA Bottle Fairy Bottom Biting Bug [HD 720p] Boys Be... Special : Missing Scene Boys Be… Brain Powerd Brave 10 [BD 720p] Break Blade [BD 1080p] Brigadoon Bronze Brothers Conflict [HD 720p] BTOOOM! [Blu-ray 720p] BT\'x BT\'x Neo Bubblegum Crash Bubblegum Crisis 2032 Bubblegum Crisis 2040 Buddha Saitan - Movie [Blu-ray 720p] Buddy Complex [HD 720p] Bungaku Shoujo - Kyou no Oyatsu - Hatsukoi [BD 720p] Bungaku Shoujo Movie [BD 720p] Burn Up Excess Burn Up Scramble Burn Up W Bus Gamer Bushou Shinki OVA [BD 720p] Busou Renkin Busou Shinki [Blu-ray 720p] Busou Shinki Moon Angel [BD 720p] Buttobi CPU Buzzer Beater (Basketball) Buzzer Beater 2007 C - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control [BD 720p] C3 - Cube x Cursed x Curious [BD 720p] [10 bits] California Crisis: Gun Salvo Call Me Tonight OVA Campione! [Blu-ray 720p] Canaan [Blu-ray 720p] Canary (Ova) Candy Boy Candy Boy (ONA) Candy Boy EX 2 Candy Candy The Movie Candy Candy TV (Complete)[LQ] Canvas 2 Special : Motif Of Sepia Canvas 2nd Capeta Captain Harlock - Harlock Saga Captain Harlock - Mystery of the Arcadia [Blu-ray 1080p] Captain Harlock - Space Pirate Captain Harlock [2013][Blu-ray 1080p] Captain Harlock - Waga Seishun no Arcadia - Movie [Blu-ray 720p] Captain Harlock Endless Orbit SSX Captain Herlock Captain Tsubasa OVA 1 - Euro Finals Captain Tsubasa OVA 2 - World War Captain Tsubasa OVA 3 - Holland\'s Angel Wings Captain Tsubasa Road to 2002 Cardcaptor Sakura [BD 720p] Cardcaptor Sakura Memorial Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 1 + Movie 2 Sealed Card [BD 720p] Cardfight!! Vanguard Cardfight!! Vanguard - Asia Circuit [HD 720p] Cardfight!! Vanguard - Link Joker [HD 720p] Carnival Phantasm [BD 1080p] + Special Casshan Robot Hunter (1994) Casshern Sins Cat Shit One Cat Soup OGM (Nekojirou) Cat\'s Eye CB Chara Go Nagai World Cencoroll Cencoroll OVA Centurions [No Sub/Eng Dub] Chance Pop Session Chance Triangle Chaos Head [HD 720p] Charady\'s Daily Joke Cherry no Manma Chevalier Chibi Maruko-chan Movie (1990) Chicchana Yukitsukai Sugar Chihayafuru [BD 720p] Chihayafuru 2 [HD 1080p] Chihayafuru 2 OAD Chikyuu ga Ugoita HI (The Day the Earth Moved) Chinese Ghost Story Chip And Dale - Rescue Rangers Season 1 Complete [English Dub] Chi\'s New Address Chi\'s Sweet Home Chi\'s Sweet Home - (OVA) Chitose Get You! [HD 720p] Chiyoko Millennial Actress Chobits [BD 720p] Chocolate Underground Chocotan! [SP][BD 1080p] Chocotto Sister Chocotto Sister Special Chokkyuu Hyoudai Robot Anime: Straight Title [HD 1080p] Choujikuu Kidan Southern Cross Choujuu Kishin Dancougar TV Chouyaku Hyakuninisshu Uta Koi [HD 720p] Chrono Crusade Chrono Crusade Chrono Crusade +Zero Chrono Trigger OVA [LQ] Chu-Bra!! [BD 720p] Chuumon no Ooi Ryouriten (1993) Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! [Blu-ray 720p] Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! ~Depth of Field~ [Blu-ray 720p] Chuunibyou Demo Koi Ga Shitai! Ova [Blu-ray 1080p] Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren - Shiritori Under the Kotatsu [Blu-ray 1080p] Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren [HD 720p] Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren Lite [HD 720p] Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! The Movie [Blu-ray 1080p] Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! The Movie Lite [Blu-ray 1080p] City Hunter City Hunter - Kinkyu Namachukei! Kyouakuhan Saeba Ryo no Saigo City Hunter 1991 City Hunter 2 City Hunter 3 City Hunter The Movie 1 - .357 Magnum City Hunter The Movie 2 - Bay City Wars City Hunter The Movie 3 - Secret Service City Hunter The Movie 4 - Million Dollar Conspiracy City Hunter The Movie 5 - Goodbye My Sweetheart City Hunter The Movie 6 - Death Of Evil Ryo Saeba Clamp Gakuen Tanteidan Clamp In Wonderland 2 Clannad [BD 1080p] Clannad After story [BD 720p] Clannad Movie Claymore [BD 720p] Cleopatra DC OVA Clockwork Fighter - Himou\'s War Clover Code E Code Geass [Blu-ray 720p] Code Geass Hangyaku no Lelouch R2 [Blu-ray 720p] Code Geass Nunnally in Wonderland [BD 1080p] [10 bits] Code Geass: Boukoku no Akito 1 - Yokuryuu wa Maiorita [Blu-ray 1080p] Code Geass: Boukoku no Akito 2 - Hikisakareshi Yokuryuu [Blu-ray 1080p] CØDE:BREAKER [HD 720p][10 Bits] Coicent [BD 720p] Colorful [BD 1080p] Combattler V Combustible Campus Guardress Comic Party Comic Party Revolution OVA Comic Party Special Compiler 2 Festa OVA [No Sub/Engdub] Computer Kakumei Condor Heroes Season I Condor Heroes Season II Cooking Master Boy Complete Copihan Coppelion [HD 720p] Corpse Party Missing Footage [Blu-ray 1080p] Corpse Party Tortured Souls - Bougyakusareta Tamashii no Jukyou [BD 1080p] Cosmopolitan Prayers (Cosprayers) Cosmopolitan Prayers OVA Cosmopolitan Prayers The Movie (Cosprayers) Cosmos Pink Shock Cosplay Complex Cowboy Bebop - Knockin\' on Heaven\'s Door [BD 1080p] [10 bits] Cowboy Bebop [Blu-ray 720p] Coyote Ragtime Show Crayon Shin-Chan Movie 01 Unkokusai no Yabou Crayon Shin-Chan Movie 02 The Secret of Buri Buri Kingdom Crayon Shin-Chan Movie 05 Crayon Shin-Chan Movie 08 Crayon Shin-Chan Movie 09 The Adult Empire Strikes Back Crayon Shin-Chan Movie 10 Crayon Shin-Chan Movie 11 Crayon Shin-Chan Movie 12 Arashi wo Yobu! Yuuhi no Kasukabe Boys Crayon Shin-Chan Movie 17 Otakebe! Kasukabe Yasei Oukoku Crayon Shin-Chan Movie 18 [HD 720p] Crayon Shin-chan movie 20 Arashi o Yobu! Ora to Uchū no Princess Crayon Shin-Chan Movie Action Kamen vs Haigure Mao Crest Of The Stars - Birth Crest Of The Stars - Seikai No Monshou Crest Of The Stars - Seikai No Senki I Crest Of The Stars - Seikai No Senki II Crest Of The Stars - Seikai No Senki III OVA Cross Game [HD 720p] Crusher Joe Crusher Joe OVA : The Ice Prison Crusher Joe OVA : The Ultimate Weapon Ash Crying Freeman Crying Freeman The Movie Crystal Blaze Crystal Triangle Curse Of The Undead Yoma Cuticle Detective Inaba [HD 720p] Cyber City Oedo 808 OVA Cyberteam in Akihabara - 2011 Summer Vacations Cyclops Shoujo Saipu [HD 720p] '; preg_match_all($re, $str, $matches, PREG_SET_ORDER, 0); // Print the entire match result var_dump($matches);

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 PHP, please visit: http://php.net/manual/en/ref.pcre.php