Regular Expressions 101

Save & Share

Flavor

  • PCRE2 (PHP >=7.3)
  • PCRE (PHP <7.3)
  • ECMAScript (JavaScript)
  • Python
  • Golang
  • Java 8
  • .NET 7.0 (C#)
  • Rust
  • Regex Flavor Guide

Function

  • Match
  • Substitution
  • List
  • Unit Tests

Tools

Sponsors
There are currently no sponsors. Become a sponsor today!
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

Substitution

Processing...

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"<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n(?:.*)<a href=\"\/wiki\/[^\"]*\" title=\"[^\"]*\">\n(?:.*)<div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n(?:.*)https:\/\/images\.wikia\.nocookie\.net\/(?:.*)\/americanhorrorstory\/images\/thumb\/(?P<filepath>[^\/]\/[^\/]{2}\/[^\/]*)\/(?:.*)\n(?:.*)\n(?:.*)<div class=\"title\">(?P<title>[^\n]*)<\/div>\n\s*<\/a>\n\s*<\/div>" test_str = ("<div class=\"category-gallery-room1\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Tate_Langdon\" title=\"Tate Langdon\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20170918121337/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/6/6a/MurderHouse3.jpg/130px-0%2C1879%2C30%2C1692-MurderHouse3.jpg\" alt=\"Tate Langdon\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Tate Langdon</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Constance_Langdon\" title=\"Constance Langdon\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20170901150853/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/0/01/Scnet_ahs_promos01_019.jpg/130px-0%2C1881%2C32%2C1696-Scnet_ahs_promos01_019.jpg\" alt=\"Constance Langdon\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Constance Langdon</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Infantata\" title=\"Infantata\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140211011227/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/8/8a/Infantata-benjamin-woolf-american-horror-story-3.png/130px-139%2C616%2C0%2C421-Infantata-benjamin-woolf-american-horror-story-3.png\" alt=\"Infantata\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Infantata</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Moira_O%27Hara\" title=\"Moira O'Hara\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20161118211513/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/1/11/Moira_double.jpg/130px-0%2C250%2C5%2C226-Moira_double.jpg\" alt=\"Moira O'Hara\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Moira O'Hara</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Vivien_Harmon\" title=\"Vivien Harmon\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20170901162145/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/9/92/02e87f12aa77ee5561190934d0563538.jpg/130px-0%2C2033%2C35%2C1833-02e87f12aa77ee5561190934d0563538.jpg\" alt=\"Vivien Harmon\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Vivien Harmon</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Billie_Dean_Howard\" title=\"Billie Dean Howard\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20161016014729/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/d/d8/Billie_Dean_Howard_-_Hotel.jpg/130px-75%2C528%2C0%2C400-Billie_Dean_Howard_-_Hotel.jpg\" alt=\"Billie Dean Howard\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Billie Dean Howard</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Violet_Harmon\" title=\"Violet Harmon\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20170831083449/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/d/d4/Taissa-farmiga-as-violet-harmon-in-american-horror-story-1.jpg/130px-0%2C390%2C6%2C351-Taissa-farmiga-as-violet-harmon-in-american-horror-story-1.jpg\" alt=\"Violet Harmon\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Violet Harmon</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Hayden_McClaine\" title=\"Hayden McClaine\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121211204512/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/9/97/Download_%288%29.jpg/130px-156%2C700%2C0%2C480-Download_%288%29.jpg\" alt=\"Hayden McClaine\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Hayden McClaine</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Ben_Harmon\" title=\"Ben Harmon\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20170901161948/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/4/45/Scnet_ahs_promos01_001.jpg/130px-0%2C1573%2C28%2C1420-Scnet_ahs_promos01_001.jpg\" alt=\"Ben Harmon\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Ben Harmon</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Beauregard_Langdon\" title=\"Beauregard Langdon\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121029040849/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/7/78/Beau2.png/130px-161%2C916%2C0%2C667-Beau2.png\" alt=\"Beauregard Langdon\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Beauregard Langdon</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Adelaide_Langdon\" title=\"Adelaide Langdon\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20170901143540/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/1/10/Scnet_ahs_promos01_025.jpg/130px-0%2C1805%2C29%2C1626-Scnet_ahs_promos01_025.jpg\" alt=\"Adelaide Langdon\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Adelaide Langdon</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Larry_Harvey\" title=\"Larry Harvey\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20170831083606/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/d/d0/American-horror-story-denis-ohare-4.jpg/130px-0%2C540%2C9%2C487-American-horror-story-denis-ohare-4.jpg\" alt=\"Larry Harvey\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Larry Harvey</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Nora_Montgomery\" title=\"Nora Montgomery\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140212014448/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/9/9f/Tumblr_mm7qwzHIgM1rjrfw0o1_500.png/130px-94%2C410%2C0%2C279-Tumblr_mm7qwzHIgM1rjrfw0o1_500.png\" alt=\"Nora Montgomery\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Nora Montgomery</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Charles_Montgomery\" title=\"Charles Montgomery\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20171012044313/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/1/1a/Montgomery.jpg/130px-0%2C503%2C9%2C454-Montgomery.jpg\" alt=\"Charles Montgomery\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Charles Montgomery</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Hugo_Langdon\" title=\"Hugo Langdon\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121028001711/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/0/02/Hugo.png/130px-0%2C663%2C10%2C597-Hugo.png\" alt=\"Hugo Langdon\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Hugo Langdon</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Travis_Wanderly\" title=\"Travis Wanderly\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111222045635/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/e/ee/AmericanHorrorStory-travis.jpg/130px-0%2C287%2C4%2C258-AmericanHorrorStory-travis.jpg\" alt=\"Travis Wanderly\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Travis Wanderly</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n" " </div>\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-room1\" style=\"margin-left: 0px;\"><div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Rubber_Man\" title=\"Rubber Man\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111216004411/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/6/61/Ahs1120005_595.jpg/130px-0%2C396%2C8%2C358-Ahs1120005_595.jpg\" alt=\"Rubber Man\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Rubber Man</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Elizabeth_Short\" title=\"Elizabeth Short\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121024055325/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/d/d6/Dahlia2.png/130px-0%2C569%2C10%2C513-Dahlia2.png\" alt=\"Elizabeth Short\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Elizabeth Short</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Chad_Warwick\" title=\"Chad Warwick\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111105101300/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/c/cf/Chad.jpg/130px-0%2C719%2C9%2C645-Chad.jpg\" alt=\"Chad Warwick\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Chad Warwick</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Marcy\" title=\"Marcy\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20151004153134/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/8/83/Marcy.jpg/130px-180%2C832%2C0%2C576-Marcy.jpg\" alt=\"Marcy\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Marcy</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Troy_and_Bryan\" title=\"Troy and Bryan\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121104143121/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/6/61/Images_%2835%29.jpg/130px-234%2C1049%2C0%2C720-Images_%2835%29.jpg\" alt=\"Troy and Bryan\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Troy and Bryan</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Hallie\" title=\"Hallie\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121115111401/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/b/b5/Hallie.jpg/130px-0%2C378%2C7%2C341-Hallie.jpg\" alt=\"Hallie\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Hallie</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Patrick\" title=\"Patrick\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111105101725/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/4/40/Pat_2.jpg/130px-0%2C523%2C9%2C472-Pat_2.jpg\" alt=\"Patrick\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Patrick</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Leah\" title=\"Leah\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111023041839/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/c/cd/Leah.jpg/130px-148%2C663%2C0%2C455-Leah.jpg\" alt=\"Leah\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Leah</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Lorraine_Harvey\" title=\"Lorraine Harvey\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111117175740/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/0/0d/Lorraineharveybio.jpg/130px-27%2C411%2C0%2C339-Lorraineharveybio.jpg\" alt=\"Lorraine Harvey\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Lorraine Harvey</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Luke_(Murder_House)\" title=\"Luke (Murder House)\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121027065901/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/4/4f/Luke.png/130px-0%2C524%2C9%2C473-Luke.png\" alt=\"Luke (Murder House)\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Luke (Murder House)</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/R._Franklin\" title=\"R. Franklin\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121027184749/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/3/37/Franklin.png/130px-0%2C374%2C9%2C340-Franklin.png\" alt=\"R. Franklin\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">R. Franklin</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Jack_Colquitt\" title=\"Jack Colquitt\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121028070935/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/4/46/Jack.png/130px-250%2C1119%2C0%2C768-Jack.png\" alt=\"Jack Colquitt\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Jack Colquitt</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Dr._Hall\" title=\"Dr. Hall\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <img src=\"https://images.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130122041507/americanhorrorstory/images/thumb/b/b4/Hall.png/130px-0%2C691%2C9%2C620-Hall.png\" alt=\"Dr. Hall\" width=\"130\" height=\"115\">\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Dr. Hall</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Amir_Stanley\" title=\"Amir Stanley\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <div class=\"snippet\">\n" " <span class=\"quote\">“</span>\n" " <span class=\"text\">REDIRECT Westfield High/Massacre#Amir Stanley This is a redirect from a character link. In other...</span>\n" " </div>\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Amir Stanley</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Angela_Harvey\" title=\"Angela Harvey\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <div class=\"snippet\">\n" " <span class=\"quote\">“</span>\n" " <span class=\"text\">REDIRECT Lorraine Harvey#Angela Harvey This is a redirect from a character link. In other words...</span>\n" " </div>\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Angela Harvey</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n\n" "<div class=\"category-gallery-item\">\n" " <a href=\"/wiki/Angie\" title=\"Angie\">\n" " <div class=\"category-gallery-item-image\">\n" " <div class=\"snippet\">\n" " <span class=\"quote\">“</span>\n" " <span class=\"text\">REDIRECT Piggy Piggy#Angie This is a redirect from a character link. In other words, this is a...</span>\n" " </div>\n" " </div>\n" " <div class=\"title\">Angie</div>\n" " </a>\n" "</div>\n" "</div>") subst = "${title} https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/americanhorrorstory/images/${filepath}/revision/latest/" # You can manually specify the number of replacements by changing the 4th argument result = re.sub(regex, subst, test_str, 0, re.MULTILINE) if result: print (result) # 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