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

import java.util.regex.Matcher; import java.util.regex.Pattern; public class Example { public static void main(String[] args) { final String regex = "^[^\\s]+\\s[^\\s]+"; final String string = "Monika Olah Richárd Bai\n" + "Like · Reply · March 24 at 4:45pm\n\n" + "Kecskés Dóra Edina Molnar Attila\n" + "Like · Reply · March 24 at 4:16pm\n\n" + "Manole Ioana Dana Marinescu\n" + "Like · Reply · 2 · March 24 at 5:09pm\n\n" + "Norbert Kosa Sinko Bela\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 28 at 9:37am\n\n" + "AsiYe Asy KeJal SeRna\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 27 at 4:59pm\n\n" + "Banu Razvan Ana Banu\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 26 at 11:40pm\n\n" + "Timeia Denysa Batcau Denisa\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 26 at 11:36pm\n\n" + "Cristina Visalon Eugen Comanescu\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 26 at 11:21pm\n\n" + "Irina Paun Paula Cristea\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 26 at 11:31am\n\n" + "Oneth Ciprian Onet Daniela Carmen\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 26 at 12:46am\n\n" + "Sorina Radulescu Tatiana Sorina\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 11:59pm\n\n" + "Neculay Neculayp Caty Catyp\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 4:01pm\n\n" + "Lavinia Popescu Lapadat Liviu\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 12:51pm\n\n" + "Georgeta Pintilie Octavian Pintilie\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 12:30pm\n\n" + "Elena Petrescu Victor Petrescu\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 12:29pm\n\n" + "Doina Paraschiv Petre Paraschiv\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 12:27pm\n\n" + "Adrian Ovreiu Ioana Ovreiu\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 12:26pm\n\n" + "Stan Papusa Crax Prax\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 11:20am\n\n" + "Cornelia Ionescu Sorin Soury\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 10:45am\n\n" + "Daniel Filigeanu Prejmerean Anita\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 10:44am\n\n" + "Nicolae Georgiana Licuta Stan\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 9:23am\n\n" + "Ramo Maryam Gabriela Andrei\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 9:19am\n\n" + "Dana Daniela Lucica Lazar\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 1:11am\n\n" + "Lucica Lazar Paun Dorin Petru\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 25 at 12:40am\n\n" + "Cristian Murguleț Narcis Gabriel\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 24 at 11:15pm\n\n" + "Rodica Bucur Ionut Richard G\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 24 at 10:53pm\n\n" + "Clavi Mpo Elena Lenti\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 24 at 9:57pm\n\n" + "Flory Florina Adriana Eco\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 24 at 9:01pm\n\n" + "Strempel Henrietta Norbert Ciato\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 24 at 8:31pm\n\n" + "Mihai Marele Bfx Bufu\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 24 at 7:11pm\n\n" + "Mariana Cioranu Petrica Cioranu\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 24 at 6:02pm\n\n" + "Dragusan Tudorel Elena Elena\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 24 at 5:32pm\n\n" + "Selegean Nicoleta Porumbei Albi Selegean\n" + "Like · Reply · 1 · March 24 at 5:12pm\n\n" + "Monika Erzsebet Tamas Szabo\n" + "Like · Reply · March 31 at 11:56pm\n\n" + "Ana Maria Goia Dan Goia\n" + "Like · Reply · March 31 at 7:34pm\n\n" + "Alexandru Gulie anka anca\n" + "Like · Reply · March 30 at 12:58am\n\n" + "Maria Corodescu Popp Costel Dan Corodescu\n" + "Like · Reply · March 29 at 11:27pm\n\n" + "Anduta Si Maruta Vali Vali\n" + "Like · Reply · March 29 at 7:59pm\n\n" + "Petruta Mire Ella Trancan Stefania\n" + "Like · Reply · March 29 at 9:28am\n\n" + "Diana Uricu Razvan Gulie\n" + "Like · Reply · March 29 at 3:02am\n\n" + "Preda Nicoleta Alina Mary Laurentiu\n" + "Like · Reply · March 29 at 12:56am\n\n" + "Gabriela Vasilescu Bily Moky\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 9:19pm\n\n" + "Sinko Bela Norbert Kosa\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 8:05pm\n\n" + "Ioan Bors Stelian Gheorghe\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 7:54pm\n\n" + "Moni Elena Eftaliea Mara\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 5:46pm\n\n" + "Nella Ella Anca Cristina\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 3:00pm\n\n" + "Dorina Balteanu Bogdan Sabangeanu\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 2:59pm\n\n" + "Berinde Vladut Vlad Berinde\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 1:35pm\n\n" + "Iosif Stoian Florentina Flory\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 10:17am\n\n" + "Iulianna Sabo Denisa Bui\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 9:31am\n\n" + "Bleotu Macrina Bleotu Gheorghe\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 9:10am\n\n" + "Ion Cretu Dumitrache Cami Dumitrache\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 1:27am\n\n" + "Carmen Ionela Radian Nicolae\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 1:06am\n\n" + "Cristian Sorin Carmen-Ionela Nicolae\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 12:54am\n\n" + "Cami Dumitrache Dumy Nick\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 12:47am\n\n" + "Nicolae Cristi Crina Toitan\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 12:41am\n\n" + "Nutu Marius Carmen Ionela\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 12:34am\n\n" + "Ile Ilenutza Dan F. Dan\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 12:24am\n\n" + "Marin Nicolae Ioana Nicolae\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 12:21am\n\n" + "Ioana Nicolae Marin Nicolae\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 12:16am\n\n" + "Dumy Nick Cami Dumitrache\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 12:11am\n\n" + "Carmen Nicolae Radian Nicolae\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 12:05am\n\n" + "Marina Cioceanu Liviu Moise\n" + "Like · Reply · March 28 at 12:04am\n\n" + "Ella Ellena Catalin Cozma\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 11:59pm\n\n" + "Mircea Mircea Geta Geta\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 11:52pm\n\n" + "Radian Nicolae Carmen-Ionela Nicolae\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 11:49pm\n\n" + "Emil Hossu Mihaela Nistor\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 11:46pm\n\n" + "Geta Geta Mircea Mircea\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 11:32pm\n\n" + "Fish Dan Paula Gabriela\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 11:26pm\n\n" + "Ungurean Mihai Maria Ungurean\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 11:16pm\n\n" + "Doina Ana Butman Gheorghiu Paul\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 11:09pm\n\n" + "Florin Hossu Octavia Durus,\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 10:48pm\n\n" + "Victor Zota Rose Marya\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 10:47pm\n\n" + "Ileana Lala Catalin Cozma\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 10:40pm\n\n" + "Petrina Mani Eva Darla\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 10:39pm\n\n" + "Tiberiu Petrica Veronik Ungurean\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 10:24pm\n\n" + "Melinceanu Adrian Tea Ada Hari Ioakeimidis\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 10:20pm\n\n" + "Tea Ada Hari Ioakeimidis Melinceanu Adrian\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 10:18pm\n\n" + "Elena Maria Veronik Ungurean\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 10:09pm\n\n" + "Mara Pia Giorgiana Gio\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 10:02pm\n\n" + "Ioana Alexandrescu Ion Oprea\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 9:56pm\n\n" + "Adriana Lautarescu Ungureanu Gabriela\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 9:53pm\n\n" + "Catalin Cozma Ileana Lala\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 9:49pm\n\n" + "Steluta Norocoasa Miti Miky\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 9:43pm\n\n" + "Ion Oprea Ioana Alexandrescu\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 9:42pm\n\n" + "Skill Zoor Mihai Raliu\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 9:39pm\n\n" + "Dragos Victor Rose Marya\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 9:17pm\n\n" + "Ioan C. Ioan Daff Dan\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 9:11pm\n\n" + "Antonio Bogdan Cioroiu Flori Mimi\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 9:11pm\n\n" + "Stredie Lydia Mogos Rusalina\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 9:07pm\n\n" + "Flory Maddy Alex Cîrstocea\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 9:04pm\n\n" + "Mariana Baroiu Antonio Bogdan\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 8:55pm\n\n" + "Dany Grasu Raisa Georgiana\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 8:48pm\n\n" + "Ella Dan Adriana Chereches\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 8:41pm\n\n" + "Rose Marya Dragos Victor\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 8:19pm\n\n" + "Veronik Ungurean Tiberiu Petrica\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 7:57pm\n\n" + "Giorgiana Gio Mara Pia\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 7:43pm\n\n" + "Maria Ille Mircea Mircea\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 7:24pm\n\n" + "Ungureanu Gabriela Adriana Lautarescu\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 6:40pm\n\n" + "Mada Madalynutza Madalina Caty Catyp\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 5:56pm\n\n" + "Iliana Mihaela Ionut Cretu\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 4:59pm · Edited\n\n" + "Dragos Zota Marioara Zota\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 4:52pm\n\n" + "Gela Geluta Stefan Stefan\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 4:19pm\n\n" + "Mada Madutza Bogdan Bobo\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 4:08pm\n\n" + "Toni Pre Mona Simu\n" + "Like · Reply · March 27 at 4:03pm"; final Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile(regex, Pattern.MULTILINE); final Matcher matcher = pattern.matcher(string); while (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