import Foundation
let pattern = #"(?=this|that|other)(?>\s*(?:(?(1)(?!))\bthis\b()|(?(2)(?!))\bthat\b()|(?(3)(?!))\bother\b()|(?(4)(?!))\b(.+?)\b|(?(5)(?!))\b(.+?)\b|(?(6)(?!))\b(.+?)\b|(?(7)(?!))\b(.+?)\b|(?(8)(?!))\b(.+?)\b|(?(9)(?!))\b(.+?)\b)\s*){3,9}?(?=\1\2\3)"#
let regex = try! NSRegularExpression(pattern: pattern, options: .anchorsMatchLines)
let testString = #"""
looking for this and that and some other thing
that rod is longer than this other one
other than this, I have nothing
ignore multiple words not before this and that or other
this and that or other, followed by a bunch of words
looking at this and A B C that some of other thing
"""#
let stringRange = NSRange(location: 0, length: testString.utf16.count)
let matches = regex.matches(in: testString, range: stringRange)
var result: [[String]] = []
for match in matches {
var groups: [String] = []
for rangeIndex in 1 ..< match.numberOfRanges {
let nsRange = match.range(at: rangeIndex)
guard !NSEqualRanges(nsRange, NSMakeRange(NSNotFound, 0)) else { continue }
let string = (testString as NSString).substring(with: nsRange)
groups.append(string)
}
if !groups.isEmpty {
result.append(groups)
}
}
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