import Foundation
let pattern = #"('(?:[^'\\]*(?:\\.[^'\\]*)*)')|(?<!eq|ne|[<>]|like)\s(?!eq|ne|[<>]|like)"#
let regex = try! NSRegularExpression(pattern: pattern, options: .anchorsMatchLines)
let testString = #"""
client_id like 'TACIENT 1%' or client_id < 'TACLIENT'
client_id like 'TA\'CIENT 1%' or client_id < 'TACLIENT'
"""#
let stringRange = NSRange(location: 0, length: testString.utf16.count)
let substitutionString = #"$1"#
let result = regex.stringByReplacingMatches(in: testString, range: stringRange, withTemplate: substitutionString)
print(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 Swift 5.2, please visit: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/foundation/nsregularexpression