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
No Match

/
/
gm

Test String

Code Generator

Language

Generated Code

# coding=utf8 # the above tag defines encoding for this document and is for Python 2.x compatibility import re regex = r">[^<>]+<" test_str = ("<html>\n\n" "<head>\n" "<meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html; charset=windows-1252\">\n" "<title>Suessgraeser</title>\n" "<meta name=\"GENERATOR\" content=\"Microsoft FrontPage 4.0\">\n" "<meta name=\"ProgId\" content=\"FrontPage.Editor.Document\">\n" "<meta name=\"Microsoft Theme\" content=\"expeditn 011, default\">\n" "<meta name=\"Microsoft Border\" content=\"none, default\">\n" "</head>\n\n" "<body background=\"../../_themes/expeditn/exptextb.jpg\" bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" text=\"#000000\" link=\"#993300\" vlink=\"#666600\" alink=\"#CC3300\"><!--mstheme--><font face=\"Book Antiqua, Times New Roman, Times\">\n" "<p align=\"center\"><!--webbot bot=\"Navigation\" S-Type=\"top\"\n" "S-Orientation=\"horizontal\" S-Rendering=\"graphics\" B-Include-Home=\"TRUE\"\n" "B-Include-Up=\"TRUE\" U-Page S-Target startspan --><script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--\n" "MSFPhover = \n" " (((navigator.appName == \"Netscape\") && \n" " (parseInt(navigator.appVersion) >= 3 )) || \n" " ((navigator.appName == \"Microsoft Internet Explorer\") && \n" " (parseInt(navigator.appVersion) >= 4 ))); \n" "function MSFPpreload(img) \n" "{\n" " var a=new Image(); a.src=img; return a; \n" "}\n" "// --></script><script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--\n" "if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav1n=MSFPpreload(\"../../_derived/home_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\"); MSFPnav1h=MSFPpreload(\"../../_derived/home_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn_a.gif\"); }\n" "// --></script><a href=\"../../index.htm\" language=\"JavaScript\" onmouseover=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav1'].src=MSFPnav1h.src\" onmouseout=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav1'].src=MSFPnav1n.src\"><img src=\"../../_derived/home_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\" width=\"140\" height=\"50\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Home\" align=\"middle\" name=\"MSFPnav1\"></a> <script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--\n" "if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav2n=MSFPpreload(\"../../_derived/up_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\"); MSFPnav2h=MSFPpreload(\"../../_derived/up_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn_a.gif\"); }\n" "// --></script><a href=\"../monoco_gras.htm\" language=\"JavaScript\" onmouseover=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav2'].src=MSFPnav2h.src\" onmouseout=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav2'].src=MSFPnav2n.src\"><img src=\"../../_derived/up_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\" width=\"140\" height=\"50\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Nach oben\" align=\"middle\" name=\"MSFPnav2\"></a> <script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--\n" "if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav3n=MSFPpreload(\"../../Hauptgruppen/_derived/Systematik.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\"); MSFPnav3h=MSFPpreload(\"../../Hauptgruppen/_derived/Systematik.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn_a.gif\"); }\n" "// --></script><a href=\"../../Hauptgruppen/Systematik.htm\" language=\"JavaScript\" onmouseover=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav3'].src=MSFPnav3h.src\" onmouseout=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav3'].src=MSFPnav3n.src\"><img src=\"../../Hauptgruppen/_derived/Systematik.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\" width=\"140\" height=\"50\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Systematik\" align=\"middle\" name=\"MSFPnav3\"></a> <script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--\n" "if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav4n=MSFPpreload(\"../../Bestimmung/_derived/bestimmung.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\"); MSFPnav4h=MSFPpreload(\"../../Bestimmung/_derived/bestimmung.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn_a.gif\"); }\n" "// --></script><a href=\"../../Bestimmung/bestimmung.htm\" language=\"JavaScript\" onmouseover=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav4'].src=MSFPnav4h.src\" onmouseout=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav4'].src=MSFPnav4n.src\"><img src=\"../../Bestimmung/_derived/bestimmung.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\" width=\"140\" height=\"50\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Bestimmung\" align=\"middle\" name=\"MSFPnav4\"></a> <script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--\n" "if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav5n=MSFPpreload(\"../../_derived/bestimmungsschluessel.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\"); MSFPnav5h=MSFPpreload(\"../../_derived/bestimmungsschluessel.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn_a.gif\"); }\n" "// --></script><a href=\"../../bestimmungsschluessel.htm\" language=\"JavaScript\" onmouseover=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav5'].src=MSFPnav5h.src\" onmouseout=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav5'].src=MSFPnav5n.src\"><img src=\"../../_derived/bestimmungsschluessel.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\" width=\"140\" height=\"50\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Familien\" align=\"middle\" name=\"MSFPnav5\"></a> <script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--\n" "if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav6n=MSFPpreload(\"../../Fundorte/_derived/fundorte.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\"); MSFPnav6h=MSFPpreload(\"../../Fundorte/_derived/fundorte.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn_a.gif\"); }\n" "// --></script><a href=\"../../Fundorte/fundorte.htm\" language=\"JavaScript\" onmouseover=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav6'].src=MSFPnav6h.src\" onmouseout=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav6'].src=MSFPnav6n.src\"><img src=\"../../Fundorte/_derived/fundorte.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\" width=\"140\" height=\"50\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Fundorte\" align=\"middle\" name=\"MSFPnav6\"></a> <script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--\n" "if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav7n=MSFPpreload(\"../../Fachbegriffe/_derived/fachbegriffe.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\"); MSFPnav7h=MSFPpreload(\"../../Fachbegriffe/_derived/fachbegriffe.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn_a.gif\"); }\n" "// --></script><a href=\"../../Fachbegriffe/fachbegriffe.htm\" language=\"JavaScript\" onmouseover=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav7'].src=MSFPnav7h.src\" onmouseout=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav7'].src=MSFPnav7n.src\"><img src=\"../../Fachbegriffe/_derived/fachbegriffe.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\" width=\"140\" height=\"50\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Fachbegriffe\" align=\"middle\" name=\"MSFPnav7\"></a> <script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--\n" "if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav8n=MSFPpreload(\"../../_derived/artenverzeichnis1.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\"); MSFPnav8h=MSFPpreload(\"../../_derived/artenverzeichnis1.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn_a.gif\"); }\n" "// --></script><a href=\"../../artenverzeichnis1.htm\" language=\"JavaScript\" onmouseover=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav8'].src=MSFPnav8h.src\" onmouseout=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav8'].src=MSFPnav8n.src\"><img src=\"../../_derived/artenverzeichnis1.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\" width=\"140\" height=\"50\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Artenverzeichnis\" align=\"middle\" name=\"MSFPnav8\"></a> <script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--\n" "if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav9n=MSFPpreload(\"../../Hilfe/_derived/hilfe.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\"); MSFPnav9h=MSFPpreload(\"../../Hilfe/_derived/hilfe.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn_a.gif\"); }\n" "// --></script><a href=\"../../Hilfe/hilfe.htm\" language=\"JavaScript\" onmouseover=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav9'].src=MSFPnav9h.src\" onmouseout=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav9'].src=MSFPnav9n.src\"><img src=\"../../Hilfe/_derived/hilfe.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\" width=\"140\" height=\"50\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Hilfe\" align=\"middle\" name=\"MSFPnav9\"></a> <script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--\n" "if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav10n=MSFPpreload(\"../../_derived/saatblumen.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\"); MSFPnav10h=MSFPpreload(\"../../_derived/saatblumen.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn_a.gif\"); }\n" "// --></script><a href=\"../../saatblumen.htm\" language=\"JavaScript\" onmouseover=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav10'].src=MSFPnav10h.src\" onmouseout=\"if(MSFPhover) document['MSFPnav10'].src=MSFPnav10n.src\"><img src=\"../../_derived/saatblumen.htm_cmp_expeditn010_hbtn.gif\" width=\"140\" height=\"50\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Saatblumen\" align=\"middle\" name=\"MSFPnav10\"></a><!--webbot bot=\"Navigation\" endspan i-checksum=\"53857\" -->\n" "</p>\n" "<p align=\"center\"><b><font color=\"#FF0000\" size=\"6\">Familie:&nbsp;Süßgräser (Poaceae,\n" "Graminaceae)</font></b></p>\n" "<p align=\"center\"><b><font size=\"4\" color=\"#0000FF\">Zur Familie gehören 668\n" "Gattungen mit ca. 1000 Arten.</font></b></p>\n" "<p align=\"center\"><b><font color=\"#0000FF\" size=\"4\">Süßgräser sind gekennzeichnet durch einen runden, hohlen\n" "rundlichen Halm.&nbsp;<br>\n" "Viele <a href=\"getreide.htm\">Getreidearten</a> gehören zu den Süßgräsern.</font></b></p>\n" "<p align=\"center\">\n" "<font size=\"4\" color=\"#0000FF\"><b>&gt; <a href=\"aufbau_suessgras.htm\">Zum\n" "Aufbau eines Süßgrases</a></b></font></p>\n" "<!--mstheme--></font><table border=\"1\" width=\"100%\" bordercolordark=\"#660000\" bordercolorlight=\"#CC9966\">\n" " <tr>\n" " <td width=\"50%\" align=\"center\" valign=\"top\"><!--mstheme--><font face=\"Book Antiqua, Times New Roman, Times\"><b><font size=\"3\">&nbsp;Pflanze 1, 5 m -\n" " 6 m groß<br>\n" "Halm mindestens 1 cm&nbsp;dick<br>\n" "&gt; <a href=\"gras_gross.htm\">Große Gräser</a></font></b>\n" " <p><b><img border=\"0\" src=\"P1530625.JPG_a.jpg\" width=\"272\" height=\"581\"></b><!--mstheme--></font></td>\n" " <td width=\"50%\" align=\"center\" valign=\"top\"><!--mstheme--><font face=\"Book Antiqua, Times New Roman, Times\"><b><font size=\"3\">\n" "Pflanzen kleiner<br>\n" "Halm dünner als 1 cm<br>\n" "&gt; <a href=\"gras_klein.htm\">Kleine Gräser</a></font></b><!--mstheme--></font></td>\n" " </tr>\n" "</table><!--mstheme--><font face=\"Book Antiqua, Times New Roman, Times\">\n" "<p align=\"left\"><b><font size=\"3\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></b></p>\n" "<p align=\"left\">&nbsp;</p>\n" "<!--mstheme--></font></body>\n\n" "</html>\n") matches = re.finditer(regex, test_str, re.MULTILINE) for matchNum, match in enumerate(matches, start=1): print ("Match {matchNum} was found at {start}-{end}: {match}".format(matchNum = matchNum, start = match.start(), end = match.end(), match = match.group())) for groupNum in range(0, len(match.groups())): groupNum = groupNum + 1 print ("Group {groupNum} found at {start}-{end}: {group}".format(groupNum = groupNum, start = match.start(groupNum), end = match.end(groupNum), group = match.group(groupNum))) # Note: for Python 2.7 compatibility, use ur"" to prefix the regex and u"" to prefix the test string and substitution.

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 Python, please visit: https://docs.python.org/3/library/re.html