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

# coding=utf8 # the above tag defines encoding for this document and is for Python 2.x compatibility import re regex = r"(\d{1,3})(cc|)y\d{1,4}\w(?:[-_](\d{1,3})(cc|)y)?" test_str = ("DOA000281_ICS_U-M1-1740_R-M1-1740_W.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M1-1740_R-M200-1740CCU_W.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M1-1740_R-M200-1740_W.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M1-1740_R-M30-1740CCU_W.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M1-300_R-M1-300_S.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M1-300_R-M200-300CCU_S.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M1-300_R-M200-300_S.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M1-300_R-M30-300CCU_S.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M10-1740_R-M10-1740_W.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M10-300_R-M10-300_S.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M2-1740_R-M2-1740_W.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M2-300_R-M2-300_S.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M200-1740CCU_R-M1-1740_W.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M200-1740_R-M1-1740_W.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M200-300CCU_R-M1-300_S.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M200-300_R-M1-300_S.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M30-1740CCU_R-M1-1740_W.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M30-300CCU_R-M1-300_S.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M5-1740_R-M5-1740_W.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M5-1740_R-M50-1740_W.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M5-300_R-M5-300_S.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M5-300_R-M50-300_S.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M50-1740_R-M5-1740_W.TAB\n" "DOA000281_ICS_U-M50-300_R-M5-300_S.TAB\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_10y180sMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_10y360wMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_1y180sMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_1y180s_200ccy180sMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_1y180s_200y180sMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_1y180s_30ccy180sMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_1y360wMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_1y360w_200ccy360wMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_1y360w_200y360wMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_1y360w_30ccy360wMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_200ccy180s_1y180sMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_200ccy360w_1y360wMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_200y180s_1y180sMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_200y360w_1y360wMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_2y180sMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_2y360wMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_30ccy180s_1y180sMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_30ccy360w_1y360wMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_50y180s_5y180sMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_50y360w_5y360wMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_5y180sMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_5y180s_50y180sMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_5y360wMax.tab\n" "DOA_000533_ICS_5y360w_50y360wMax.tab\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_10y600sMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_10y600wMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_1y600sMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_1y600s_200ccy600sMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_1y600s_200y600sMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_1y600s_30ccy600sMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_1y600wMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_1y600w_200ccy600wMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_1y600w_200y600wMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_1y600w_30ccy600wMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_200ccy600s_1y600sMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_200ccy600w_1y600wMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_200y600s_1y600sMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_200y600w_1y600wMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_2y600sMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_2y600wMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_30ccy600s_1y600sMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_30ccy600w_1y600wMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_50y600s_5y600sMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_50y600w_5y600wMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_5y600sMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_5y600s_50y600sMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_5y600wMax.TAB\n" "CFA_AUG2018_2D DOA_000537_ICS_5y600w_50y600wMax.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M1-300_R-M1-300_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M1-300_R-M200-300CCU_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M1-300_R-M200-300_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M1-300_R-M30-300CCU_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M1-60_R-M1-60_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M1-60_R-M200-60CCU_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M1-60_R-M200-60_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M1-60_R-M30-60CCU_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M10-300_R-M10-300_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M10-60_R-M10-60_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M2-300_R-M2-300_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M2-60_R-M2-60_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M200-300CCU_R-M1-300_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M200-300_R-M1-300_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M200-60CCU_R-M1-60_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M200-60_R-M1-60_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M30-300CCU_R-M1-300_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M30-60CCU_R-M1-60_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M5-300_R-M5-300_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M5-300_R-M50-300_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M5-60_R-M5-60_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M5-60_R-M50-60_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M50-300_R-M5-300_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000557_ICS_U-M50-60_R-M5-60_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M1-300_R-M1-300_Winter.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M1-300_R-M200-300CCU_Winter.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M1-300_R-M200-300_Winter.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M1-300_R-M30-300CCU_Winter.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M1-60_R-M1-60_Summer.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M1-60_R-M200-60CCU_Summer.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M1-60_R-M200-60_Summer.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M1-60_R-M30-60CCU_Summer.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M10-300_R-M10-300_Winter.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M10-60_R-M10-60_Summer.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M2-300_R-M2-300_Winter.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M2-60_R-M2-60_Summer.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M200-300CCU_R-M1-300_Winter.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M200-300_R-M1-300_Winter.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M200-60CCU_R-M1-60_Summer.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M200-60_R-M1-60_Summer.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M30-300CCU_R-M1-300_Winter.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M30-60CCU_R-M1-60_Summer.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M5-300_R-M5-300_Winter.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M5-300_R-M50-300_Winter.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M5-60_R-M5-60_Summer.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M5-60_R-M50-60_Summer.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M50-300_R-M5-300_Winter.TAB\n" "DOA000616_617 ICS U-M50-60_R-M5-60_Summer.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M10_120_R_M10_120_S.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M10_600_R_M10_600_W.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M1_120_R_M1_120_S.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M1_120_R_M200_120CCU_S.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M1_120_R_M200_120_S.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M1_120_R_M30_120CCU_S.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M1_600_R_M1_600_W.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M1_600_R_M200_600CCU_W.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M1_600_R_M200_600_W.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M1_600_R_M30_600CCU_W.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M200_120CCU_R_M1_120_S.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M200_120_R_M1_120_S.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M200_600CCU_R_M1_600_W.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M200_600_R_M1_600_W.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M2_120_R_M2_120_S.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M2_600_R_M2_600_W.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M30_120CCU_R_M1_120_S.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M30_600CCU_R_M1_600_W.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M50_120_R_M5_120_S.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M50_600_R_M5_600_W.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M5_120_R_M50_120_S.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M5_120_R_M5_120_S.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M5_600_R_M50_600_W.TAB\n" "DOA000674_ICS_U_M5_600_R_M5_600_W.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M10_120_R_M10_120_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M10_600_R_M10_600_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M1_120_R_M1_120_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M1_120_R_M200_120CC_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M1_120_R_M200_120_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M1_120_R_M30_120CC_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M1_600_R_M1_600_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M1_600_R_M200_600CC_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M1_600_R_M200_600_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M1_600_R_M30_600CC_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M200_120CC_R_M1_120_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M200_120_R_M1_120_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M200_600CC_R_M1_600_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M200_600_R_M1_600_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M2_120_R_M2_120_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M2_600_R_M2_600_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M30_120CC_R_M1_120_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M30_600CC_R_M1_600_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M50_120_R_M5_120_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M50_600_R_M5_600_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M5_120_R_M50_120_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M5_120_R_M5_120_S_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M5_600_R_M50_600_W_2D.TAB\n" "DOA002372_ICS_U_M5_600_R_M5_600_W_2D.TAB\n") matches = re.finditer(regex, test_str, re.MULTILINE) for matchNum, match in enumerate(matches, start=1): print ("Match {matchNum} was found at {start}-{end}: {match}".format(matchNum = matchNum, start = match.start(), end = match.end(), match = match.group())) for groupNum in range(0, len(match.groups())): groupNum = groupNum + 1 print ("Group {groupNum} found at {start}-{end}: {group}".format(groupNum = groupNum, start = match.start(groupNum), end = match.end(groupNum), group = match.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