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

/
/

Test String

Code Generator

Language

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)(<pre>.+?<\\/pre>)"; final String string = " <!DOCTYPE HTML>\n" + "<html lang=\"en-US\">\n" + "<head>\n\n" + " <meta charset=\"UTF-8\">\n" + " <title>'HPTjNRgUfG' | TextUploader.com</title>\n" + " <meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"initial-scale=1.0,maximum-scale=1.0,user-scalable=no\">\n" + " <link rel=\"icon\" type=\"image/ico\" href=\"http://textuploader.com/favicon.ico\">\n\n" + " <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"HPTjNRgUfG\" xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/html\"/>\n" + " <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"/>\n" + " <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"http://textuploader.com/5jx4u\"/>\n" + " <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"textuploader.com - HPTjNRgUfG\"/>\n" + " <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Please call back later &lt;a href=&quot; http://philadelphiaexplorers.org/about-the-explorers-club/#annual &quot;&gt;a...\"/>\n" + " <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http://textuploader.com/5jx4u\"/>\n" + " <!-- bootstrap framework css -->\n" + " <link media=\"all\" type=\"text/css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/twitter-bootstrap/2.3.0/css/bootstrap.min.css\">\n" + " <link media=\"all\" type=\"text/css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/twitter-bootstrap/2.3.0/css/bootstrap-responsive.min.css\">\n" + " <!-- power tooltips -->\n" + " <link media=\"all\" type=\"text/css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery-powertip/1.1.0/jquery.powertip.css\">\n\n" + " <!-- main stylesheet -->\n" + " <link media=\"all\" type=\"text/css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"http://textuploader.com/assets/css/beoro.css\">\n" + " <link media=\"all\" type=\"text/css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"http://textuploader.com/assets/css/tu_custom.css\">\n\n" + " <!--[if lte IE 8]><link media=\"all\" type=\"text/css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"http://textuploader.com/assets/css/ie8.css\">\n" + "<![endif]-->\n" + " <!--[if IE 9]><link media=\"all\" type=\"text/css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"http://textuploader.com/assets/css/ie9.css\">\n" + "<![endif]-->\n\n" + " <!--[if lt IE 9]>\n" + " <script src=\"//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/html5shiv/3.6.2pre/html5shiv.js\"></script>\n" + " <script src=\"//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/respond.js/1.1.0/respond.min.js\"></script>\n" + " <script src=\"//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/flot/0.7/excanvas.min.js\"></script>\n" + " <![endif]-->\n\n" + " <script type=\"text/javascript\">\n" + " var _gaq = _gaq || [];\n" + " _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-36314765-1']);\n" + " _gaq.push(['_setDomainName', 'textuploader.com']);\n" + " _gaq.push(['_setAllowLinker', true]);\n" + " _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);\n" + " (function() {\n" + " var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;\n" + " ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';\n" + " var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);\n" + " })();\n" + " </script>\n\n\n\n" + " <link media=\"all\" type=\"text/css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/highlight.js/7.3/styles/default.min.css\">\n" + " <script src=\"//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/highlight.js/7.3/highlight.min.js\"></script>\n" + " <script>hljs.initHighlightingOnLoad();</script>\n\n" + "</head>\n\n" + "<body class=\"bg_c\">\n\n" + "<div id=\"fb-root\"></div>\n" + "<script>(function (d, s, id) {\n" + " var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];\n" + " if (d.getElementById(id)) return;\n" + " js = d.createElement(s);\n" + " js.id = id;\n" + " js.src = \"//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=456470037742170\";\n" + " fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);\n" + " }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>\n" + "<!-- main wrapper (without footer) -->\n" + "<div class=\"main-wrapper\">\n" + " <!-- top bar -->\n\n" + " <div class=\"navbar navbar-fixed-top\">\n" + " <div class=\"navbar-inner\">\n" + " <div class=\"container\">\n" + " <div class=\"pull-right top-search\">\n" + " </div>\n\n\n" + " <div id=\"fade-menu\" class=\"pull-left\">\n" + " <ul class=\"clearfix\" id=\"mobile-nav\">\n" + " <li><a href=\"http://textuploader.com/\">Home</a></li>\n" + " <li><a href=\"http://textuploader.com/discover\">Discover</a></li>\n" + " <li><a href=\"http://textuploader.com/help\">Help</a></li>\n" + " <li><a href=\"http://textuploader.com/developers\">Developers</a></li>\n" + " <li><a href=\"http://textuploader.com/contact\">Contact</a></li>\n\n" + " <li><a href='https://textuploader.com/profile'>My Account</a>\n" + " </li>\n\n\n\n" + " </ul>\n" + " </div>\n\n" + " </div>\n" + " </div>\n" + " </div>\n\n" + " <!-- header -->\n" + " <header>\n" + " <div class=\"container\">\n" + " <div class=\"row\">\n" + " <div class=\"span3\">\n" + " <!-- <div class=\"main-logo\"><a href=\"http://textuploader.com/\"><img src=\"http://textuploader.com/assets/img/textuploader_logo.png\" alt=\"TextUploader.com\"></div> -->\n" + " <div class=\"main-logo\"><a href='http://textuploader.com/'><img src=\"http://textuploader.com/assets/img/textuploader_logo.png\" alt=\"TextUploader.com\"></a></div>\n" + " </div>\n" + " <div class=\"span5\">\n" + " <nav class=\"nav-icons\">\n" + " <!-- small icons navigation -->\n" + " </nav>\n" + " </div>\n" + " <div class=\"span4\">\n" + " <div class=\"user-box\">\n" + " <div class=\"user-box-inner\">\n" + " <img src=\"//www.gravatar.com/avatar/d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e?s=80&r=g&d=mm\" class=\"user-avatar img-avatar\" alt=\"Gravatar\"/>\n\n" + " <div class=\"user-info\">\n" + " <a href=\"https://textuploader.com/register\">Create an Account</a> <ul class=\"unstyled\">\n" + " <li><a href=\"https://textuploader.com/auth/login\">Login</a></li>\n" + " <li>&middot;</li>\n" + " <li><a href=\"https://textuploader.com/auth/password/forgot\">Password</a></li>\n" + " </ul>\n" + " </div>\n" + " </div>\n" + " </div>\n" + " </div>\n" + " </div>\n" + " </div>\n" + " </header>\n\n" + " <!-- breadcrumbs -->\n" + " <div class=\"container\">\n" + " <ul id=\"breadcrumbs\">\n" + " <li>\n" + " <a href=\"http://textuploader.com/\">\n" + " <i class=\"icon-home\"></i>\n" + " </a></li>\n\n" + " <li><a href=\"http://textuploader.com/\">Home</a></li>\n" + " <li><a href=\"http://textuploader.com/5jx4u\">textuploader.com/5jx4u</a></li>\n\n" + " <li><span>Posted on: 11/16/15 1:59:00 AM UTC</span></li>\n" + " </ul>\n" + " </div>\n\n\n" + " <!-- main content -->\n" + " <div class=\"container\">\n" + " <div class=\"row-fluid\">\n" + " <div class=\"span12\">\n" + " <div class=\"w-box w-box-blue\">\n" + " <div class=\"w-box-header\"><h4>\"HPTjNRgUfG\" - Views: 2 &middot; Hits: 2 - Type: Public</h4></div>\n" + " <div class=\"w-box-content cnt_a \">\n\n\n" + "<div class=\"toolbar clearfix\">\n" + " <div class=\"pull-left\">\n" + " <div class=\"toolbar-icons clearfix\">\n" + " <div style=\"overflow:hidden;width:90px;float:left;\">\n" + " <div class=\"fb-like\" data-href=\"http://textuploader.com/5jx4u\" data-send=\"false\" data-layout=\"button_count\"\n" + " data-width=\"450\" data-show-faces=\"false\"></div>\n" + "</div>\n" + "<div style=\"overflow:hidden;width:90px;float:left;\">\n" + " <a href=\"https://twitter.com/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-url=\"http://textuploader.com/5jx4u\">Tweet</a>\n" + "</div>\n" + "<div style=\"overflow:hidden;width:90px;float:left;\">\n" + " <div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\"\n" + " data-href=\"http://textuploader.com/5jx4u\"></div>\n" + "</div>\n" + "<div style=\"clear:both\"></div>\n\n\n" + " </div>\n" + " </div>\n" + " <div class=\"pull-right\">\n" + " <div class=\"btn-group\">\n" + " <button class=\"btn btn-mini\" onClick=\"parent.location='http://textuploader.com/5jx4u/rev'; void(0);\">Revisions (0)</button>\n" + " <button class=\"btn btn-mini\" onClick=\"parent.location='http://textuploader.com/contact'; void(0);\">Report Abuse</button>\n" + " </div>\n" + " </div>\n" + "</div>\n" + "<pre><code class='no-highlight'>Please call back later &lt;a href=&quot; http://philadelphiaexplorers.org/about-the-explorers-club/#annual &quot;&gt;accidently took 2 40 mg paxil&lt;/a&gt; &quot;We need that flexibility,&quot; Fox said. &quot;When you pick your offensive line, not just for the season, but for game day, you have to pick them from the standpoint of having some flexibility. You&#039;ve got to have a swing guard/center, you&#039;ve got to have a swing tackle/guard, for the games.&quot;\n" + " </code></pre>\n\n\n" + " </div>\n" + " </div>\n" + " </div>\n\n" + " </div>\n\n\n" + " </div>\n\n" + " <div class=\"footer_space\"></div>\n" + "</div>\n" + "<!-- footer -->\n" + "<footer>\n" + " <div class=\"container\">\n" + " <div class=\"row\">\n" + " <div class=\"span8\">\n" + " <div>&copy; 2016 <a href=\"http://www.exsom.com\" target=\"_blank\">Exsom Group, LLC</a>. All Rights Reserved.</div>\n" + " </div>\n" + " <div class=\"span4\">\n" + " <ul class=\"unstyled\">\n" + "<!-- \n" + "<li><a href=\"https://tuarmor.com\">TUArmor</a></li>\n" + " <li>&middot;</li>\n" + "-->\n" + " <li><a href=\"http://textuploader.com/terms-of-service\">Terms of Service</a></li>\n" + " <li>&middot;</li>\n" + " <li><a href=\"http://textuploader.com/privacy\">Privacy Policy</a></li>\n" + " <li>&middot;</li>\n" + " <li><a href=\"http://textuploader.com/dmca\">DMCA</a></li>\n" + " <li>&middot;</li>\n" + " <li><a href=\"http://status.textuploader.com/\">System Status</a></li>\n" + " </ul>\n" + " </div>\n" + " </div>\n" + " </div>\n" + "</footer>\n" + "<!-- Common JS -->\n" + "<!-- jQuery framework -->\n" + "<script src=\"//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.9.1/jquery.min.js\"></script>\n" + "<!-- bootstrap Framework plugins -->\n" + "<script src=\"//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/twitter-bootstrap/2.3.0//js/bootstrap.min.js\"></script>\n" + "<!-- top menu -->\n" + "<script src=\"http://textuploader.com/assets/js/jquery.fademenu.js\"></script>\n" + "<!-- top mobile menu -->\n" + "<script src=\"http://textuploader.com/assets/js/selectnav.min.js\"></script>\n" + "<!-- actual width/height of hidden DOM elements -->\n" + "<script src=\"http://textuploader.com/assets/js/jquery.actual.min.js\"></script>\n" + "<!-- jquery easing animations -->\n" + "<script src=\"//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery-easing/1.3/jquery.easing.min.js\"></script>\n" + "<!-- power tooltips -->\n" + "<script src=\"//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery-powertip/1.1.0/jquery.powertip-1.1.0.min.js\"></script>\n" + "<!-- date library -->\n" + "<script src=\"//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/moment.js/1.7.2/moment.min.js\"></script>\n" + "<!-- common functions -->\n" + "<script src=\"http://textuploader.com/assets/js/beoro_common.js\"></script>\n\n" + "<!-- twitter button code -->\n" + "<script>!function (d, s, id) {\n" + " var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? 'http' : 'https';\n" + " if (!d.getElementById(id)) {\n" + " js = d.createElement(s);\n" + " js.id = id;\n" + " js.src = p + '://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';\n" + " fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);\n" + " }\n" + " }(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script>\n\n" + "<!-- +1 code -->\n" + "<script type=\"text/javascript\">\n" + " (function () {\n" + " var po = document.createElement('script');\n" + " po.type = 'text/javascript';\n" + " po.async = true;\n" + " po.src = '//apis.google.com/js/plusone.js';\n" + " var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];\n" + " s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s);\n" + " })();\n" + "</script>\n" + "</body>\n" + "</html>"; final Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile(regex); final Matcher matcher = pattern.matcher(string); if (matcher.find()) { System.out.println("Full match: " + matcher.group(0)); for (int i = 1; i <= matcher.groupCount(); i++) { System.out.println("Group " + i + ": " + matcher.group(i)); } } } }

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