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

/
/

Test String

Code Generator

Generated Code

$re = '/\s*(?:(?:thin|medium|thick|(?:(?:(?:\-?|\+?)(?:(?:\d+)?\.\d+|\d+))(?:in|cm|mm|pt|pc|px|em|ex)|0(?:(?:in|cm|mm|pt|pc|px|em|ex))))\s+(?:none|hidden|dotted|dashed|solid|double|groove|ridge|inset|outset)\s+(?:(?:(?:black|silver|gray|white|maroon|red|purple|fuchsia|green|lime|olive|yellow|navy|blue|teal|aqua|orange|aliceblue|antiquewhite|aquamarine|azure|beige|bisque|blanchedalmond|blueviolet|brown|burlywood|cadetblue|chartreuse|chocolate|coral|cornflowerblue|cornsilk|crimson|darkblue|darkcyan|darkgoldenrod|darkgray|darkgreen|darkgrey|darkkhaki|darkmagenta|darkolivegreen|darkorange|darkorchid|darkred|darksalmon|darkseagreen|darkslateblue|darkslategray|darkslategrey|darkturquoise|darkviolet|deeppink|deepskyblue|dimgray|dimgrey|dodgerblue|firebrick|floralwhite|forestgreen|gainsboro|ghostwhite|gold|goldenrod|greenyellow|grey|honeydew|hotpink|indianred|indigo|ivory|khaki|lavender|lavenderblush|lawngreen|lemonchiffon|lightblue|lightcoral|lightcyan|lightgoldenrodyellow|lightgray|lightgreen|lightgrey|lightpink|lightsalmon|lightseagreen|lightskyblue|lightslategray|lightslategrey|lightsteelblue|lightyellow|limegreen|linen|mediumaquamarine|mediumblue|mediumorchid|mediumpurple|mediumseagreen|mediumslateblue|mediumspringgreen|mediumturquoise|mediumvioletred|midnightblue|mintcream|mistyrose|moccasin|navajowhite|oldlace|olivedrab|orangered|orchid|palegoldenrod|palegreen|paleturquoise|palevioletred|papayawhip|peachpuff|peru|pink|plum|powderblue|rosybrown|royalblue|saddlebrown|salmon|sandybrown|seagreen|seashell|sienna|skyblue|slateblue|slategray|slategrey|snow|springgreen|steelblue|tan|thistle|tomato|turquoise|violet|wheat|whitesmoke|yellowgreen|rebeccapurple)|transparent|currentcolor|(?:#(?:(?:\d|[a-f]){6}|(?:\d|[a-f]){3}))|(?:rgb\((?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,){2}(?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*)\))|(?:hsl\(\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,\s*\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\,\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\))|(?:rgba\((?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,){2}(?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*)\,\s*(?:(?:\-?|\+?)(?:(?:\d+)?\.\d+|\d+))\s*\))|(?:hsla\(\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,\s*\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\,\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\,\s*(?:(?:\-?|\+?)(?:(?:\d+)?\.\d+|\d+))\s*\)))|transparent|inherit)|(?:thin|medium|thick|(?:(?:(?:\-?|\+?)(?:(?:\d+)?\.\d+|\d+))(?:in|cm|mm|pt|pc|px|em|ex)|0(?:(?:in|cm|mm|pt|pc|px|em|ex))))\s+(?:none|hidden|dotted|dashed|solid|double|groove|ridge|inset|outset)|(?:thin|medium|thick|(?:(?:(?:\-?|\+?)(?:(?:\d+)?\.\d+|\d+))(?:in|cm|mm|pt|pc|px|em|ex)|0(?:(?:in|cm|mm|pt|pc|px|em|ex))))\s+(?:(?:(?:black|silver|gray|white|maroon|red|purple|fuchsia|green|lime|olive|yellow|navy|blue|teal|aqua|orange|aliceblue|antiquewhite|aquamarine|azure|beige|bisque|blanchedalmond|blueviolet|brown|burlywood|cadetblue|chartreuse|chocolate|coral|cornflowerblue|cornsilk|crimson|darkblue|darkcyan|darkgoldenrod|darkgray|darkgreen|darkgrey|darkkhaki|darkmagenta|darkolivegreen|darkorange|darkorchid|darkred|darksalmon|darkseagreen|darkslateblue|darkslategray|darkslategrey|darkturquoise|darkviolet|deeppink|deepskyblue|dimgray|dimgrey|dodgerblue|firebrick|floralwhite|forestgreen|gainsboro|ghostwhite|gold|goldenrod|greenyellow|grey|honeydew|hotpink|indianred|indigo|ivory|khaki|lavender|lavenderblush|lawngreen|lemonchiffon|lightblue|lightcoral|lightcyan|lightgoldenrodyellow|lightgray|lightgreen|lightgrey|lightpink|lightsalmon|lightseagreen|lightskyblue|lightslategray|lightslategrey|lightsteelblue|lightyellow|limegreen|linen|mediumaquamarine|mediumblue|mediumorchid|mediumpurple|mediumseagreen|mediumslateblue|mediumspringgreen|mediumturquoise|mediumvioletred|midnightblue|mintcream|mistyrose|moccasin|navajowhite|oldlace|olivedrab|orangered|orchid|palegoldenrod|palegreen|paleturquoise|palevioletred|papayawhip|peachpuff|peru|pink|plum|powderblue|rosybrown|royalblue|saddlebrown|salmon|sandybrown|seagreen|seashell|sienna|skyblue|slateblue|slategray|slategrey|snow|springgreen|steelblue|tan|thistle|tomato|turquoise|violet|wheat|whitesmoke|yellowgreen|rebeccapurple)|transparent|currentcolor|(?:#(?:(?:\d|[a-f]){6}|(?:\d|[a-f]){3}))|(?:rgb\((?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,){2}(?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*)\))|(?:hsl\(\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,\s*\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\,\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\))|(?:rgba\((?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,){2}(?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*)\,\s*(?:(?:\-?|\+?)(?:(?:\d+)?\.\d+|\d+))\s*\))|(?:hsla\(\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,\s*\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\,\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\,\s*(?:(?:\-?|\+?)(?:(?:\d+)?\.\d+|\d+))\s*\)))|transparent|inherit)|(?:thin|medium|thick|(?:(?:(?:\-?|\+?)(?:(?:\d+)?\.\d+|\d+))(?:in|cm|mm|pt|pc|px|em|ex)|0(?:(?:in|cm|mm|pt|pc|px|em|ex))))|(?:none|hidden|dotted|dashed|solid|double|groove|ridge|inset|outset)\s+(?:(?:(?:black|silver|gray|white|maroon|red|purple|fuchsia|green|lime|olive|yellow|navy|blue|teal|aqua|orange|aliceblue|antiquewhite|aquamarine|azure|beige|bisque|blanchedalmond|blueviolet|brown|burlywood|cadetblue|chartreuse|chocolate|coral|cornflowerblue|cornsilk|crimson|darkblue|darkcyan|darkgoldenrod|darkgray|darkgreen|darkgrey|darkkhaki|darkmagenta|darkolivegreen|darkorange|darkorchid|darkred|darksalmon|darkseagreen|darkslateblue|darkslategray|darkslategrey|darkturquoise|darkviolet|deeppink|deepskyblue|dimgray|dimgrey|dodgerblue|firebrick|floralwhite|forestgreen|gainsboro|ghostwhite|gold|goldenrod|greenyellow|grey|honeydew|hotpink|indianred|indigo|ivory|khaki|lavender|lavenderblush|lawngreen|lemonchiffon|lightblue|lightcoral|lightcyan|lightgoldenrodyellow|lightgray|lightgreen|lightgrey|lightpink|lightsalmon|lightseagreen|lightskyblue|lightslategray|lightslategrey|lightsteelblue|lightyellow|limegreen|linen|mediumaquamarine|mediumblue|mediumorchid|mediumpurple|mediumseagreen|mediumslateblue|mediumspringgreen|mediumturquoise|mediumvioletred|midnightblue|mintcream|mistyrose|moccasin|navajowhite|oldlace|olivedrab|orangered|orchid|palegoldenrod|palegreen|paleturquoise|palevioletred|papayawhip|peachpuff|peru|pink|plum|powderblue|rosybrown|royalblue|saddlebrown|salmon|sandybrown|seagreen|seashell|sienna|skyblue|slateblue|slategray|slategrey|snow|springgreen|steelblue|tan|thistle|tomato|turquoise|violet|wheat|whitesmoke|yellowgreen|rebeccapurple)|transparent|currentcolor|(?:#(?:(?:\d|[a-f]){6}|(?:\d|[a-f]){3}))|(?:rgb\((?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,){2}(?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*)\))|(?:hsl\(\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,\s*\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\,\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\))|(?:rgba\((?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,){2}(?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*)\,\s*(?:(?:\-?|\+?)(?:(?:\d+)?\.\d+|\d+))\s*\))|(?:hsla\(\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,\s*\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\,\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\,\s*(?:(?:\-?|\+?)(?:(?:\d+)?\.\d+|\d+))\s*\)))|transparent|inherit)|(?:none|hidden|dotted|dashed|solid|double|groove|ridge|inset|outset)|(?:(?:(?:black|silver|gray|white|maroon|red|purple|fuchsia|green|lime|olive|yellow|navy|blue|teal|aqua|orange|aliceblue|antiquewhite|aquamarine|azure|beige|bisque|blanchedalmond|blueviolet|brown|burlywood|cadetblue|chartreuse|chocolate|coral|cornflowerblue|cornsilk|crimson|darkblue|darkcyan|darkgoldenrod|darkgray|darkgreen|darkgrey|darkkhaki|darkmagenta|darkolivegreen|darkorange|darkorchid|darkred|darksalmon|darkseagreen|darkslateblue|darkslategray|darkslategrey|darkturquoise|darkviolet|deeppink|deepskyblue|dimgray|dimgrey|dodgerblue|firebrick|floralwhite|forestgreen|gainsboro|ghostwhite|gold|goldenrod|greenyellow|grey|honeydew|hotpink|indianred|indigo|ivory|khaki|lavender|lavenderblush|lawngreen|lemonchiffon|lightblue|lightcoral|lightcyan|lightgoldenrodyellow|lightgray|lightgreen|lightgrey|lightpink|lightsalmon|lightseagreen|lightskyblue|lightslategray|lightslategrey|lightsteelblue|lightyellow|limegreen|linen|mediumaquamarine|mediumblue|mediumorchid|mediumpurple|mediumseagreen|mediumslateblue|mediumspringgreen|mediumturquoise|mediumvioletred|midnightblue|mintcream|mistyrose|moccasin|navajowhite|oldlace|olivedrab|orangered|orchid|palegoldenrod|palegreen|paleturquoise|palevioletred|papayawhip|peachpuff|peru|pink|plum|powderblue|rosybrown|royalblue|saddlebrown|salmon|sandybrown|seagreen|seashell|sienna|skyblue|slateblue|slategray|slategrey|snow|springgreen|steelblue|tan|thistle|tomato|turquoise|violet|wheat|whitesmoke|yellowgreen|rebeccapurple)|transparent|currentcolor|(?:#(?:(?:\d|[a-f]){6}|(?:\d|[a-f]){3}))|(?:rgb\((?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,){2}(?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*)\))|(?:hsl\(\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,\s*\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\,\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\))|(?:rgba\((?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,){2}(?:\s*\d{1,3}\s*)\,\s*(?:(?:\-?|\+?)(?:(?:\d+)?\.\d+|\d+))\s*\))|(?:hsla\(\s*\d{1,3}\s*\,\s*\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\,\s*\d{1,3}%\s*\,\s*(?:(?:\-?|\+?)(?:(?:\d+)?\.\d+|\d+))\s*\)))|transparent|inherit))|inherit\s*/'; $str = ''; preg_match($re, $str, $matches, PREG_OFFSET_CAPTURE, 0); // Print the entire match result var_dump($matches);

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 PHP, please visit: http://php.net/manual/en/ref.pcre.php