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

/
/
mi

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"href=\"(.*upn=.*)\" style.*?>\s+Verify" test_str = ("<html xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml\" xmlns:v=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml\" xmlns:o=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\"><head>\n" "<meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html; charset=utf-8\"><title></title>\n" " <!--[if !mso]><!-- -->\n" " <meta http-equiv=\"X-UA-Compatible\" content=\"IE=edge\">\n" " <!--<![endif]-->\n\n" "<style type=\"text/css\">\n" " #outlook a { padding: 0; }\n" " .ReadMsgBody { width: 100%; }\n" " .ExternalClass { width: 100%; }\n" " .ExternalClass * { line-height:100%; }\n" " body { margin: 0; padding: 0; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; }\n" " table, td { border-collapse:collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; }\n" " img { border: 0; height: auto; line-height: 100%; outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; }\n" " p { display: block; margin: 13px 0; }\n" "</style>\n" "<!--[if !mso]><!-->\n" "<style type=\"text/css\">\n" " @media only screen and (max-width:480px) {\n" " @-ms-viewport { width:320px; }\n" " @viewport { width:320px; }\n" " }\n" "</style>\n" "<!--<![endif]-->\n" "<!--[if mso]>\n" "<xml>\n" " <o:OfficeDocumentSettings>\n" " <o:AllowPNG/>\n" " <o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>\n" " </o:OfficeDocumentSettings>\n" "</xml>\n" "<![endif]-->\n" "<!--[if lte mso 11]>\n" "<style type=\"text/css\">\n" " .outlook-group-fix {\n" " width:100% !important;\n" " }\n" "</style>\n" "<![endif]-->\n\n" "<!--[if !mso]><!-->\n" " <link href=\"https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Ubuntu:300,400,500,700\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text/css\">\n" " <style type=\"text/css\">\n\n" " @import url(https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Ubuntu:300,400,500,700);\n\n" " </style>\n" " <!--<![endif]--><style type=\"text/css\">\n" " @media only screen and (min-width:480px) {\n" " .mj-column-per-100, * [aria-labelledby=\"mj-column-per-100\"] { width:100%!important; }\n" " }\n" "</style>\n" "</head>\n" "<body style=\"background: #F9F9F9;\">\n" " <div style=\"background-color:#F9F9F9;\"><!--[if mso | IE]>\n" " <table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"640\" align=\"center\" style=\"width:640px;\">\n" " <tr>\n" " <td style=\"line-height:0px;font-size:0px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;\">\n" " <![endif]-->\n" " <style type=\"text/css\">\n" " html, body, * {\n" " -webkit-text-size-adjust: none;\n" " text-size-adjust: none;\n" " }\n" " a {\n" " color:#1EB0F4;\n" " text-decoration:none;\n" " }\n" " a:hover {\n" " text-decoration:underline;\n" " }\n" " </style>\n" "<div style=\"margin:0px auto;max-width:640px;background:transparent;\"><table role=\"presentation\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"font-size:0px;width:100%;background:transparent;\" align=\"center\" border=\"0\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align:center;vertical-align:top;direction:ltr;font-size:0px;padding:40px 0px;\"><!--[if mso | IE]>\n" " <table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\"><tr><td style=\"vertical-align:top;width:640px;\">\n" " <![endif]--><div aria-labelledby=\"mj-column-per-100\" class=\"mj-column-per-100 outlook-group-fix\" style=\"vertical-align:top;display:inline-block;direction:ltr;font-size:13px;text-align:left;width:100%;\"><table role=\"presentation\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"word-break:break-word;font-size:0px;padding:0px;\" align=\"center\"><table role=\"presentation\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0px;\" align=\"center\" border=\"0\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"width:138px;\"><a href=\"https://click.discord.com/ls/click?upn=qDOo8cnwIoKzt0aLL1cBeARJoBrGSa2vu41A5vK-2B4ute1kWYI6zNuxQFCVciWW4K6TEd_qHrw4GmpuuXmFxW5rh3mZJII65iIReHI98SsrMc1mgu8ShbSoZ8MmrOuOGGsGiDHIxAufqB6YPIqUicSQdng-2FAkkdkJgcbJfSqW3G7PIwW0iDwBj6ngHMb3jpNUVVWN-2FoiD0N5rifXZR-2BuZ40dggmlyOiF01slKhKO45twRgh5yI-2B6RaM8bHbZ9G2qR9YaBAoAjs5won6SN5uA3pNhvrxK8VXeUVtOnahoRh0JoE1bxywCQ5yvaOCDMhZEA4yrSOdvd8YeVaoXfokZxRV5aw9Q-3D-3D\" target=\"_blank\"><img alt=\"\" title=\"\" height=\"38px\" src=\"https://cdn.discordapp.com/email_assets/592423b8aedd155170617c9ae736e6e7.png\" style=\"border:none;border-radius:;display:block;outline:none;text-decoration:none;width:100%;height:38px;\" width=\"138\"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><!--[if mso | IE]>\n" " </td></tr></table>\n" " <![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></div><!--[if mso | IE]>\n" " </td></tr></table>\n" " <![endif]-->\n" " <!--[if mso | IE]>\n" " <table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"640\" align=\"center\" style=\"width:640px;\">\n" " <tr>\n" " <td style=\"line-height:0px;font-size:0px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;\">\n" " <![endif]--><div style=\"max-width:640px;margin:0 auto;box-shadow:0px 1px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);border-radius:4px;overflow:hidden\"><div style=\"margin:0px auto;max-width:640px;background:#ffffff;\"><table role=\"presentation\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"font-size:0px;width:100%;background:#ffffff;\" align=\"center\" border=\"0\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align:center;vertical-align:top;direction:ltr;font-size:0px;padding:40px 50px;\"><!--[if mso | IE]>\n" " <table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\"><tr><td style=\"vertical-align:top;width:640px;\">\n" " <![endif]--><div aria-labelledby=\"mj-column-per-100\" class=\"mj-column-per-100 outlook-group-fix\" style=\"vertical-align:top;display:inline-block;direction:ltr;font-size:13px;text-align:left;width:100%;\"><table role=\"presentation\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"word-break:break-word;font-size:0px;padding:0px;\" align=\"left\"><div style=\"cursor:auto;color:#737F8D;font-family:Whitney, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:24px;text-align:left;\">\n" " \n" " <h2 style=\"font-family: Whitney, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-weight: 500;font-size: 20px;color: #4F545C;letter-spacing: 0.27px;\">Hey AnthraX,</h2>\n" "<p>Thanks for registering for an account on Discord! Before we get started, we just need to confirm that this is you. Click below to verify your email address:</p>\n\n" " </div></td></tr><tr><td style=\"word-break:break-word;font-size:0px;padding:10px 25px;padding-top:20px;\" align=\"center\"><table role=\"presentation\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:separate;\" align=\"center\" border=\"0\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"border:none;border-radius:3px;color:white;cursor:auto;padding:15px 19px;\" align=\"center\" valign=\"middle\" bgcolor=\"#5865f2\"><a href=\"https://click.discord.com/ls/click?upn=qDOo8cnwIoKzt0aLL1cBeFE1RlVCKJFF5zAq8ml-2BFh1dq-2FeX22E9yMPFmLMSO5CY89faRWhR5p2f4gO8aFsPDQ3vE2xTBhlJeGEE87p63cgiwNItAlEn-2FJFtj5yFA-2FautLWRGW0IKfxGDMHWrbeey8URRAkOrr-2BYBT-2FT5kcUfa1veZCytU-2B9wHLsndHWdUn8EtOOUBgB5uZfcE9bw5O3ZAt92B28NZ9SYzZ7jGK4jzI-3DRs1A_qHrw4GmpuuXmFxW5rh3mZJII65iIReHI98SsrMc1mgu8ShbSoZ8MmrOuOGGsGiDHIxAufqB6YPIqUicSQdng-2FHz3X4EcYlJSJWCiAZzUCcvYmGWiqeBrYsFUdcbj9tutXb-2BG-2FNwkX8P7WS7Q2pJobCyQQOkvVoRrpJG7V58-2FYRxv3qpWOuYkwFmbMMjphGS2i2dLkuOItJwH1cksLhGYWdjznem5YrL4mK3OF3tC-2BV1gMuDy55tbJ5iSEgEEBWZ1ez49a-2FDIIzEHUkcai9UP5w-3D-3D\" style=\"text-decoration:none;line-height:100%;background:#5865f2;color:white;font-family:Ubuntu, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:15px;font-weight:normal;text-transform:none;margin:0px;\" target=\"_blank\">\n" " Verify Email\n" " </a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style=\"word-break:break-word;font-size:0px;padding:30px 0px;\"><p style=\"font-size:1px;margin:0px auto;border-top:1px solid #DCDDDE;width:100%;\"></p><!--[if mso | IE]><table role=\"presentation\" align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"font-size:1px;margin:0px auto;border-top:1px solid #DCDDDE;width:100%;\" width=\"640\"><tr><td style=\"height:0;line-height:0;\">&nbsp;</td></tr></table><![endif]--></td></tr><tr><td style=\"word-break:break-word;font-size:0px;padding:0px;\" align=\"left\"><div style=\"cursor:auto;color:#747F8D;font-family:Whitney, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:16px;text-align:left;\">\n" "<p>Need help? <a href=\"https://click.discord.com/ls/click?upn=qDOo8cnwIoKzt0aLL1cBeNlOcN7VC1Mue2BSa5oqYEdKm-2BPBEvWHLEUfi61TfqfxuvBipSaAkPtkAVPOEnBIzw-3D-3DAwmi_qHrw4GmpuuXmFxW5rh3mZJII65iIReHI98SsrMc1mgu8ShbSoZ8MmrOuOGGsGiDHIxAufqB6YPIqUicSQdng-2FDwgAvuv1YbBdpifu41HAMYpKNCG-2B9DJkbHJh6dVJu9B-2Fhq6a9-2Bb-2F-2FfpPxu-2B-2BUFSXxP0C06ezs4FLQUQ-2BE0NSkC92V6ZreqEWrGFcnGoFFl9g-2FnwH216S3C73vNmQNkkSTGucOGa417dqe48fbTsGecU3qOkpa4YGVUr7jzsP0-2BfU7l1fARgfixc2v61fVrGOA-3D-3D\" style=\"font-family: Whitney, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;color: #5865f2;\">Contact our support team</a> or hit us up on Twitter <a href=\"https://click.discord.com/ls/click?upn=qDOo8cnwIoKzt0aLL1cBeHLasbud5D3vi74o1Q-2B2VLcLLCDOodJpEqop-2Fc-2F5Wr6ZmwhT_qHrw4GmpuuXmFxW5rh3mZJII65iIReHI98SsrMc1mgu8ShbSoZ8MmrOuOGGsGiDHIxAufqB6YPIqUicSQdng-2FCyF1AhUtrR4uuth-2FcXmIntavlMvRzaAnv5wOU2OgE73LslLWOQr-2BreJd6EODqDvhDW1Vfkwz9tDF4v7vXkggW4RizSDgglIdEZOfSS5bC9MIP1w2aHx4hNAZGzbL8fgALc-2BVlS5PQRUTo78YViVgjh0OyWMiwTywgQ92JJlzjFBxH5kaGO4DW5oRpchrhSP6Q-3D-3D\" style=\"font-family: Whitney, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;color: #5865f2;\">@discord</a>.<br>\n" "Want to give us feedback? Let us know what you think on our <a href=\"https://click.discord.com/ls/click?upn=qDOo8cnwIoKzt0aLL1cBeGtifxhyb-2FEeTgeN31uAkBS2ZTvlNepPcLUnXgSC4-2BGKK50d_qHrw4GmpuuXmFxW5rh3mZJII65iIReHI98SsrMc1mgu8ShbSoZ8MmrOuOGGsGiDHIxAufqB6YPIqUicSQdng-2FOwEWSPbKMa2qo4v5D1DBjT-2BpfsmGt5hJSd6hBWtFxU1Qzs9MC77TBUFgP1VMuRMncLLS0v1dNVKuZKyBi4570KK7y92u7ySo8jc4IiehMbn9LlE9OLAvB6L-2FwBsnarvlcFcWZzoF-2FXUfqkzKAeidv8bjp2uyknoeeCJsueK4IYEBV0HLWkXZU0Ju7VWqIHdSA-3D-3D\" style=\"font-family: Whitney, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;color: #5865f2;\">feedback site</a>.</p>\n\n" "</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><!--[if mso | IE]>\n" " </td></tr></table>\n" " <![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></div><!--[if mso | IE]>\n" " </td></tr></table>\n" " <![endif]-->\n" " <!--[if mso | IE]>\n" " <table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"640\" align=\"center\" style=\"width:640px;\">\n" " <tr>\n" " <td style=\"line-height:0px;font-size:0px;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;\">\n" " <![endif]--></div><div style=\"margin:0px auto;max-width:640px;background:transparent;\"><table role=\"presentation\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"font-size:0px;width:100%;background:transparent;\" align=\"center\" border=\"0\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align:center;vertical-align:top;direction:ltr;font-size:0px;padding:20px 0px;\"><!--[if mso | IE]>\n" " <table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\"><tr><td style=\"vertical-align:top;width:640px;\">\n" " <![endif]--><div aria-labelledby=\"mj-column-per-100\" class=\"mj-column-per-100 outlook-group-fix\" style=\"vertical-align:top;display:inline-block;direction:ltr;font-size:13px;text-align:left;width:100%;\"><table role=\"presentation\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\" border=\"0\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"word-break:break-word;font-size:0px;padding:0px;\" align=\"center\"><div style=\"cursor:auto;color:#99AAB5;font-family:Whitney, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:24px;text-align:center;\">\n" " Sent by Discord •\n" " <a href=\"https://click.discord.com/ls/click?upn=qDOo8cnwIoKzt0aLL1cBeHN2Bg5UBi6nJegCqE7rzswec30BdfDZLIuq6fJ2wlEZPvqD_qHrw4GmpuuXmFxW5rh3mZJII65iIReHI98SsrMc1mgu8ShbSoZ8MmrOuOGGsGiDHIxAufqB6YPIqUicSQdng-2FL8CYkuJZnwLKtco9SrpLcLgA4YXFbKgXYAzJ83G0yx55HBRM5IicBhzYhwNCgKYagMPnI5hSbCVrLmztcmoKV7BIs17FkQT1VXmNDPHGJKtwwJ5xGBwW1ojGi6aLanc2sj6Yd6GCjtCOIdWjar4ri9tBl2E7s5RkDn-2BqaSwkRSOLYM8KRHgmD2qV044iH0Esw-3D-3D\" style=\"color:#1EB0F4;text-decoration:none;\">check our blog</a>\n" " • <a href=\"https://click.discord.com/ls/click?upn=qDOo8cnwIoKzt0aLL1cBeHLasbud5D3vi74o1Q-2B2VLcLLCDOodJpEqop-2Fc-2F5Wr6Z7ZFk_qHrw4GmpuuXmFxW5rh3mZJII65iIReHI98SsrMc1mgu8ShbSoZ8MmrOuOGGsGiDHIxAufqB6YPIqUicSQdng-2FHj3YsAN2EBVLb5jbZZZUDt9HBzm-2Bp8oPeOp5-2Bk3vVtUp1nHcS58a6EY-2F-2BLnmMLQf1jCAmQ-2BYiGDf2nL9lh7tCPObTHD0FCkPEEA7wXwLEAa4Dsf6V4PS8k-2FsDEZMjz6zyk9zxHSteipzFL-2F8AsexwKfN3NvafYCCwCKJLu2V7cEbbiR56xGx3Bm7QlMM1-2FLjg-3D-3D\" style=\"color:#1EB0F4;text-decoration:none;\">@discord</a>\n" " </div></td></tr><tr><td style=\"word-break:break-word;font-size:0px;padding:0px;\" align=\"center\"><div style=\"cursor:auto;color:#99AAB5;font-family:Whitney, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:24px;text-align:center;\">\n" " 444 De Haro Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94107\n" " </div></td></tr><tr><td style=\"word-break:break-word;font-size:0px;padding:0px;\" align=\"left\"><div style=\"cursor:auto;color:#000000;font-family:Whitney, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:22px;text-align:left;\">\n" " <img src=\"https://discord.com/api/science/948442403696681040/1458e1ec-fb58-4ac6-bdd1-da8d9d76387b.gif?properties=eyJlbWFpbF90eXBlIjogInVzZXJfdmVyaWZ5X2VtYWlsIn0%3D\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\">\n" " </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><!--[if mso | IE]>\n" " </td></tr></table>\n" " <![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></div><!--[if mso | IE]>\n" " </td></tr></table>\n" " <![endif]--></div>\n" "<img src=\"https://click.discord.com/wf/open?upn=cFl-2B-2BbWYnK3zgfRShQl6Yk5t12LTKds7e07WNeUbpR3c1C9XFTGrMxjdlnrlwNoqz2BHpDIYmuxrcq1ieER-2FBSNVPnAAz9AVFigEw7ot3H7Z0E05DC7oojluNUnOdbMLy9f-2FNqSc-2BH7xVp2afvaRzdq47AooOBVdh3Ely4GwSZS1l9LNxz7PIwbuYUxsC3A-2BVsETVHrlZbqAebXnOYKJjzlQnsX9RGPpPmfcQs2bAdVXccLQxukf5K4sEfzJ4hT-2FaJ7o33yHgShdvVvp3Z99CA-3D-3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" style=\"height:1px !important;width:1px !important;border-width:0 !important;margin-top:0 !important;margin-bottom:0 !important;margin-right:0 !important;margin-left:0 !important;padding-top:0 !important;padding-bottom:0 !important;padding-right:0 !important;padding-left:0 !important;\">\n\n" "</body></html>") matches = re.search(regex, test_str, re.MULTILINE | re.IGNORECASE) if matches: print ("Match was found at {start}-{end}: {match}".format(start = matches.start(), end = matches.end(), match = matches.group())) for groupNum in range(0, len(matches.groups())): groupNum = groupNum + 1 print ("Group {groupNum} found at {start}-{end}: {group}".format(groupNum = groupNum, start = matches.start(groupNum), end = matches.end(groupNum), group = matches.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