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
  • Match everything enclosed
    (?:...)
  • Capture everything enclosed
    (...)
  • 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

/
/
g

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 = "(?############ Let's catch paths without \"\" or '' ############################\n" + ")(?<opening>(?# First, catch the starting path, the <opening> ###################\n" + " )\\b(?<montage>[a-zA-Z]:[\\/\\\\])(?# montage = 'C:/'\n" + " )|[\\/\\\\][\\/\\\\](?<!http:\\/\\/)(?<!https:\\/\\/)(?>(?# check not 'http[s]:' prefix\n" + " )[?.][\\/\\\\](?:[^\\/\\\\<>:\"|?\\n\\r ]+[\\/\\\\])?(?# '//[?or.]/xxxxx' or '//[?or.]/server/'\n" + " )(?&montage)?(?# '//[?or.]/c:/' or '//[?or.]/server/c:/'\n" + " )|(?!(?&montage)))(?# '//[addressIP/ or serverName/ but not C:/]'\n" + " )|%\\w+%[\\/\\\\]?(?# '%EnvVariable%[/]'\n" + "))(?# So, <opening> catch : \n" + " 'C:/' or\n" + " '//[?or.]/[UNC/]C:/' or\n" + " '//[?or.]/[UNC/]' or\n" + " '//[next characters must be something other than C:/]' or\n" + " '%EnvironementVariable%[/]'\n" + ")(?:(?# now, we catch each directory name wich is between [/] ########################\n" + ")[^\\/\\\\<>:\"|?\\n\\r ,'](?# the first character should not be [ ,']\n" + ")[^\\/\\\\<>:\"|?\\n\\r]*(?# Any pathFrendly character\n" + ")(?<![ ,'])(?# The last directory name's character must not be [ ,']\n" + ")[\\/\\\\](?# End of directory name - who are between '/' -\n" + "))*(?# Catch most 'directoryName/' as possible\n" + ")(?:(?# Lets catch the End path. There is a file ? a directory ? or just a useless '/' ?\n" + ")(?=[^\\/\\\\<>:\"'|?\\n\\r;, ])(?#if next character is not pathFriendly or ' ' or [,'], we have reach the end of the path => we don't catch the last '/' and the the Regex end now.\n" + "You can't catch fileName who begin by [,'] because they are probably a delimiter between 2 path. but '.' is allowed\n" + ")(?:(?#If we are here, that mean there is a fileName or directoryName to catch\n" + "###### We will catch the last directoryName or the fileName without the extention ######\n" + " )(?:[^\\/\\\\<>:\"|?\\n\\r;, .](?# catch any character pathFriendly exept ' ' or [,.]\n" + " )(?: (?=[\\w\\-]))?(?# If we find a ' ', we catch him if next charcter is not a delimiter. I see '-' after an ' ' not like a delimiter.\n" + " )(?:\\*(?!= ))?(?# If we find a '*', we stop the catch if next character is an ' '\n" + " )(?!(?&montage))(?# If we find a string who look like 'C:/', we stop the catch\n" + "))+(?# We catch theses word delimited by ' ' as much as possible\n" + "))?(?# it's possible the fileName have no name, but just an extention\n" + ")(?:\\.\\w+(?# #### an extention begin by '.' and at least one none delimiter chracter\n" + "))*(?# we can add more extention until the first none '.' delimiter character. So, after the first '.' character inside a fileName, we cannot catch any ' ' character\n" + "If we don't find one extention, so the filename is a directory name, and we stop the catch.\n" + "))(?# ############# END OF PATH CATCHING WITHOUT QUOTE \"\" and '' #######################\n" + ")|(?:(?# ######### Catching path quoted '' ###########################\n" + "Path quoted '' is difficult because ['] is also a pathFrendly character\n" + ")'(?&opening)(?# We catch .* between quote only if string start with an <opening>\n" + ")(?=.*'\\W|.*'$)(?# We catch .* between quote only if we are sure we will find end quote. End quote must be ['] and delimiter character or ['] and end string\n" + ")(?:[^\\/\\\\<>:'\"|?\\n\\r]+(?# We take any pathFriendly character exept quote [']\n" + ")(?:'(?=\\w))?(?# we catch quote ['] if next character is not a delimiter\n" + ")[\\/\\\\]?)*(?# Path quoted must respect this patern until end quote character [']\n" + ")')(?# end quoted '' path\n" + ")|(?# ######### Catching path quoted \"\" ###########################\n" + ")\"(?&opening)(?# We catch .* between quote only if string start with an <opening>\n" + ")(?=.*\")(?# We catch .* between quote only if we are sure we will find end quote [\"]\n" + ")(?:[^\\/\\\\<>:\"|?\\n\\r]+(?# We take any pathFriendly character\n" + ")[\\/\\\\]?(?# pathFriendly characters can be is delimited by '\\'\n" + "))*(?# Path quoted must respect this patern until end quote character\n" + ")\"(?# end quoted path\n" + ")"; final String string = "THIS IS COMMENTED VERSION !\n" + "to simple copy and use it, go https://regex101.com/r/zWGLMP\n\n" + "C:/testOk\\dot.Dirname/.nameFileBeginByDot first space after a dot in file name stop the match\n" + "C:/testOk\\_.._AsDirName/../file name.ext1.ext2 first space after a dot stop the match\n" + "start text don't match C:/testOk\\lastDir Or FileName WithDouble..dot stop the match\n" + "C:/testOk\\lastDir Or FileName dot ended. stop the match like an end sentence. So, a last name with a space after a dot is not catch\n" + "C:/testOk\\LastNameIs/DirName C:/testOk\\2Paths_ _separated/f.ext space after extention stop match\n" + "C:/testOK\\Last_/_isNotmatched/fgfj.gjjb/uhloext/ and [ ,'] after '\\' stop match\n" + "\\\\127.0.0.1/this', 'isOkInMidDirName\\butSimple',' stop match in last DirName or FileName\n" + "\\\\.\\c:/this exotic path begining work\\and\\ space after '\\' stop the match\n" + "\\\\?\\c:/this exotic path begining work too\\and \\space before '\\' stop the match too\n" + "\\\\testOk/this' - 'is ok in dirName/and - in lastName.ext\n" + "i:/dir/fileName with a .space before dot stop the match\n" + "\\\\?\\server1\\e:\\utilities\\\\filecomparer\\ this double \\\\ is interpretated as new path\n\n" + "@\"c:\\testOk\\double quote character is more permissive/ '' , ; .txt, .ext2\",\n" + "@\"\\\\127.0.0.1\\c$\\temp\\t'est-file.txt, if end double quote is missing, we use unquote match\n" + "@\"\\c:\\LOCALHOST\\c$\\ thisIsNotMatched\" \"temp\\test-file.txt\", quoted path must have a right opening to be matched\n" + "@'\\\\.\\c:\\temp\\te'st-file.txt' simple quoted is ok \n" + "'c:\\simpleQuoteInsideStill'Match\\but' stopMatch if next is space character,\n" + "'c:\\simpleQuoteInsideStill'Match\\but\\'stopMatch if is fisrt character after \\\n" + "'c:\\simpleQuoteInsideStill'Match\\but''stopMatch if he is double\n" + "@\"\\\\?\\c:\\te ' mp\\est-file.txt\",\n" + "@\"\\\\.\\UNC\\LOCALHOST\\c$\\temp\\test-file.txt\",\n" + "@\"\\\\127.0.0.1\\c$\\temp\\test-file.txt\"\n\n" + "/\\serverName\\mix/and\\still match\" double quote character stop match\n" + "\\\\\\IfMoreThan2_\\_we take only the 2 lasts.ext first space after ext stop the match\n" + "/testNotMatch/html\n" + "/testNotMatch.html\n" + "testNotMatch.html\n" + "// -> this simple // or \\\\ is not matched, but this //isMatched !\n" + "/ -> this simple / is not matched, and this /notMatchedToo\n" + "b-renice\\sauvegardes\\B-HIER\\GEO\\Geo_NetAct_Atoll_Planet\\UR_Est\\Custom Data\"\n" + "\"b-renice\\sauvegardes\\B-HIER\\GEO\\Geo_NetAct_Atoll_Planet\\UR_Est\\Custom Data\"\n" + "\"\\\\b-renice\\sauvegardes\\B-HIER\\GEO\\Geo_NetAct_Atoll_Planet\\UR_Est\\Custom Data\"\n\n" + "error Message test:\n" + "---------------------------\n" + "Tentative d'accès à C:\\Users\\tpgz4017\\App - Data\\Local\\Temp\\tempShapeFile_CrossWave Calibration Zones - Atoll CrossWave Model.shx après sa fin.\n" + "---------------------------\n\n" + "local url path :\n" + "file://C:/Users/Downloads/20220516_32289275_1049383.pdf\n" + "urlPath :\n" + "file://p-eco2.rd.fr/vol_H0037_01$/599/livraison/20220516_32289275_1049383.pdf\n\n" + "c:\\temp\\test-file.txt\",\n" + "\\\\127.0.0.1\\c$\\temp\\test-file.txt\",\n" + "\\\\LOCALHOST\\c$\\ temp\\test-file.txt\",\n" + "\\\\LOCALHOST\\c$ \\temp\\test-file.txt\",\n" + "\\\\.\\c:\\temp\\t\\est-file.txt\",\n" + "\\\\?\\c:\\temp\\test-file.txt\",\n" + "\\\\.\\UNC\\LOCALHOST\\c$\\temp\\test-file.txt\",\n" + "\\\\?\\UNC\\ServerName\\ temp\\test-file.txt\",\n" + "\\\\127.0.0.1\\c$\\temp\\test -file.txt\"\n\n\n" + "error Message test:\n" + "Site0 / 3: - Warning . See log file 'C:\\ProgramData\\InfoVista\\Planet 7.4\\7.4\\RPE\\Log\\Plugins\\Universal_Model_masked\\log_Universal_Model.txt' for details\n\n" + "C:/test\\gvk.hv/fgfj.gjjb/uhloext : some random text\n\n" + "\\\\b-renice\\sauvegardes\\B-HIER\\GEO\\Geo_NetAct_Atoll_Planet\\UR_Est\\Polygon\\Haguenau\\Building\\Haguenau hgtfhyt \"C:/te-st.html\" \"C:/te-st.html\" gd\"dhbcsk \"C:/te/dsst.ikpo fdsf \"C:\\test\" \"C:// test.html\" gd\n" + "\"//te s t/e, llo.html \n" + "C:/test\\f/uhlo/. \n" + "C://te?st.html\n" + "b-renice\\sauvegardes\\B-HIER\\GEO\\Geo_NetAct_Atoll_Planet\\UR_Est\\Custom Data\"\n" + "; dfsdf \"\\\\b-renice\\sauvegardes\\B-HIER\\GEO\\Geo_NetAct_Atoll_Planet\\UR_Est\\Custom Data\"\n" + "; dfsdf \"\\\\\n" + "\"\\\\b-renice\\sauvegardes\\B-HIER\\GEO\\Geo_NetAct_Atoll_Planet\\UR_Est\\Custom Data\"Haguenau_Building.tab : Data format of \\\\b-renice\\sauvegardes\\B-HIER\\GEO\\Geo_NetAct_Atoll_Planet\\UR_Est\\Polygon\\Haguenau\\Building\\Haguenau Building.* C: is invalid\n" + "Haguenau_Building.tab : Data format of \\\\b-renice\\sauvegardes\\B-HIER\\GEO\\Geo NetAct Atoll_Planet\\UR_Est\\Polygon\\Haguenau\\Building\\Haguenau Building.TAB, is invalid\n" + "Haguenau_Building.tab : Data format of \\\\b-renice\\sauvegardes\\B-HIER\\GEO\\Geo_NetAct_Atoll_Planet\\UR_Est\\Polygon\\Haguenau\\Building\\Haguenau Buildi*.*ng.*, is invalid\n" + "C:/test/../hjgbkl C:/test/../hjgbkl.gfgdfgrdgfdgr C:/test/../hjgbkl\n" + "C:/test.html\n" + "C://test/ .h/hel,lo.html//test/./hello.html\n" + "C:/test//hello.html\n" + "//test\n" + "//hello.html\n" + "/test\n" + "\"%tmp%/fsdfs\"\n" + "%tmp%/fsdfs\n" + "ERROR 8/31/2021 - 6:45:39 PM HighResClutter .RasterFile : \\\\b-ren ice\\sauv egardes\\B-HIER\\GEO%dsq%\\NewJersey_NewYork\\DTM\\DTM\\CENTRAL_JERSE..Y_New_York_2 m_Z18N_0_DTM_02_06.bil : Le fichier spécifié est introuvable. \n" + "\\\\b-ren ice\\sauv egardes\\..\\B-HIER\\GEO\\NewJersey_NewYork\\DTM\\DTM\\CENTRAL_JERSE..Y_New_York_2 m_Z18N_0_DTM_02_06.bil C:\\b-ren ice\\sauv egardes\\B-HIER\\GEO\\NewJersey_NewYork\\DTM\\DTM\\CENTRAL_JERSE..Y_New_York_2 m_Z18N_0_DTM_02_06.bil \\\\b-ren ice\\sauv egardes\\B-HIER\\GEO\\NewJersey_NewYork\\DTM\\DTM\\CENTRAL_JER SE.Y_New_York_2 m_Z18N_0_DTM_02_06.bil. \n" + "//test.html\n" + "\\\\10.1.1.107\n" + "//10.1.1.107/test.html\n" + "//10.1.1.107/te st/hello.html\n" + "//10.1.1.107/test/hello\n" + "//test/hello.txt\n" + "//test/hello.txt.\n\n" + "\\\\.\\UNC\\Server\\Share\\Test\\Foo.txt \n" + "\\\\?\\UNC\\Server\\Share\\Test\\Foo.txt\n\n" + "Pour les chemins UNC de périphérique, la partie serveur/partage forme le volume. Par exemple, dans \\\\?\\server1\\e:\\utilities\\filecomparer\\ , la partie serveur/partage est server1\\utilities . Ceci est important quand\n" + "'\\\\127.0.0.1\\c$\\temp\\test-fi'le.txt'"; final Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile(regex); 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