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

/
/
gm

Test String

Code Generator

Generated Code

import java.util.regex.Matcher; import java.util.regex.Pattern; public class Example { public static void main(String[] args) { final String regex = "(Jan(?:uary)?|Feb(?:ruary)?|Mar(?:ch)?|Apr(?:il)?|May|June?|July?|Aug(?:ust)?|Sep(?:tember)?|Oct(?:ober)?|Nov(?:ember)?|Dec(?:ember)?)\\s(\\d\\d?)(st|nd|rd|th)?,?\\s(\\d{4})|(\\d\\d?)[\\.\\/-](\\d\\d?)[\\.\\/-](\\d{4})"; final String string = "03.24.2014\n" + "Jan 13 2021\n" + "January 29, 2007\n" + "Jan 9 2003\n" + "12/25/2008\n" + "July 7th, 2022\n" + "03-16-2000\n" + "08-28-2020\n" + "June 21 2019\n" + "04-24-2008\n" + "October 31st 2018\n" + "June 20, 2000\n" + "August 29th 2005\n" + "Dec 12th, 2019\n" + "April 5 2004\n" + "Feb 7 2020\n" + "July 9th, 2011\n" + "Aug 18 2015\n" + "01.27.2020\n" + "December 27, 2022\n" + "04-05-2005\n" + "07/19/2001\n" + "08/21/1999\n" + "August 31st, 2004\n" + "November 18th 2015\n" + "Feb 25 2006\n" + "February 27th 2011\n" + "September 29th, 1999\n" + "Nov 13, 2017\n" + "Aug 19th 2014\n" + "Nov 24 1999\n" + "Oct 25 2015\n" + "11/01/2019\n" + "02/11/2017\n" + "11.30.2019\n" + "05.26.2002\n" + "Jan 14 1998\n" + "May 5, 1998\n" + "04-24-1998\n" + "November 23 2006\n" + "Mar 21, 1999\n" + "April 6, 2013\n" + "Jun 4th, 2012\n" + "Oct 16th, 2000\n" + "08/07/2021\n" + "May 8, 2003\n" + "October 30th, 2021\n" + "07/27/1998\n" + "03.30.2007\n" + "08/12/2005\n" + "May 23 2020\n" + "01/18/2019\n" + "09/04/2013\n" + "December 17, 2022\n" + "06.30.2012\n" + "Jul 23rd 2022\n" + "10.28.1998\n" + "February 16th 1998\n" + "05-20-2008\n" + "September 27th, 2002\n" + "03.27.2004\n" + "08/11/2015\n" + "May 29th, 2006\n" + "02-19-2005\n" + "02/08/2018\n" + "June 14, 2003\n" + "January 18th, 2000\n" + "Jun 9th 2022\n" + "02.12.2003\n" + "06/15/2015\n" + "April 16th, 2001\n" + "April 13th, 2011\n" + "Nov 7, 1998\n" + "02.19.2015\n" + "03/18/2009\n" + "12/19/2005\n" + "July 25th, 1998\n" + "08.06.2022\n" + "October 5, 2016\n" + "October 1, 2022\n" + "03-13-2013\n" + "06-03-1999\n" + "Nov 29th 2005\n" + "Jul 9, 2014\n" + "10-10-1999\n" + "August 19 2016\n" + "Apr 5, 2016\n" + "09.26.1999\n" + "10/15/2007\n" + "12.04.2018\n" + "12-08-2008\n" + "Jul 13, 2022\n" + "12.23.2006\n" + "December 8, 2011\n" + "June 4th 2004\n" + "10.07.2007\n" + "June 19th 2002\n" + "09.05.2011\n" + "December 15, 2009\n" + "12/17/2007\n" + "08-25-2017\n" + "September 13, 2000\n" + "11-29-2006\n" + "12-11-2000\n" + "01/25/2016\n" + "09/13/2014\n" + "Dec 30 2017\n" + "05/28/2018\n" + "January 31 2020\n" + "November 7th 2002\n" + "July 14 2008\n" + "08.31.2009\n" + "October 25 2018\n" + "01/09/1999\n" + "09/16/2007\n" + "04/01/2013\n" + "12-15-2000\n" + "Oct 16 2004\n" + "10.25.2009\n" + "Aug 7 2001\n" + "April 13th 2020\n" + "April 11th 2001\n" + "02/20/2011\n" + "Aug 4 2008\n" + "Jul 25 2017\n" + "November 1, 2010\n" + "July 7 2000\n" + "December 15, 2013\n" + "12.04.2018\n" + "03/21/2014\n" + "11/15/2004\n" + "September 6th, 2003\n" + "May 15th, 2010\n" + "February 7 2011\n" + "06/10/2021\n" + "02-13-2016\n" + "02.10.2012\n" + "08-20-1998\n" + "Aug 24, 2007\n" + "04.27.2014\n" + "03/08/2019\n" + "09-09-2020\n" + "September 10th, 2022\n" + "May 11th, 2002\n" + "11/05/2015\n" + "01-29-2003\n" + "Aug 27th, 2000\n" + "Oct 11, 2013\n" + "12/12/2002\n" + "Nov 16 2007\n" + "October 13th, 2008\n" + "10-12-2017\n" + "02/16/1999\n" + "04.13.2013\n" + "Aug 19, 2020\n" + "February 9th, 2018\n" + "Sep 27, 2002\n" + "April 27th, 2005\n" + "February 17, 2005\n" + "Apr 6 1998\n" + "July 17, 2020\n" + "10/22/2000\n" + "11/29/2019\n" + "Jan 5 2018\n" + "08/12/1998\n" + "10.07.1998\n" + "07/21/2021\n" + "03.22.2006\n" + "04-19-2002\n" + "Feb 26th, 2022\n" + "Mar 18 2017\n" + "February 10, 2013\n" + "September 24, 2021\n" + "07-14-2003\n" + "Feb 1st, 2019\n" + "March 23, 2022\n" + "11/22/2014\n" + "May 10 2014\n" + "Mar 13th, 2008\n" + "05.27.2014\n" + "Jun 22, 2010\n" + "Jun 26th 2020\n" + "Sep 7, 2002\n" + "June 19 2004\n" + "03-26-2015\n" + "07.27.2005\n" + "02/24/1998\n" + "February 13th 2010\n" + "08-18-2012\n" + "May 27 1999\n" + "August 7th 2001\n" + "07.27.2001\n" + "January 25 2006\n" + "07.31.2003\n" + "November 1st, 2007\n" + "04.13.2010\n" + "11.03.2021\n" + "Oct 6, 2019\n" + "February 10 2015\n" + "01.11.2000\n" + "05.16.2016\n" + "11.16.2019\n" + "01-16-2003\n" + "December 31st 2018\n" + "04.15.2014\n" + "Jul 17th 2007\n" + "11-07-2021\n" + "05-10-2007\n" + "02-01-2007\n" + "May 31st, 2004\n" + "July 4th 2018\n" + "Jun 28 2018\n" + "Nov 17 2002\n" + "Jun 24, 2006\n" + "March 26 2022\n" + "10/18/1998\n" + "Jul 2nd 1998\n" + "March 25th, 2020\n" + "Jul 30th 2021\n" + "08.24.2017\n" + "October 8, 2006\n" + "10.24.2002\n" + "May 8 2020\n" + "Apr 16th 2006\n" + "10.20.2005\n" + "05/05/2001\n" + "10/21/2020\n" + "05/20/2020\n" + "11/09/2015\n" + "12-16-2011\n" + "Nov 8, 2019\n" + "02-10-2015\n" + "September 26th 2012\n" + "May 11th 2020\n" + "Dec 23rd, 2005\n" + "May 14th 1998\n" + "01.16.2004\n" + "Oct 28 1999\n" + "July 5th 2006\n" + "05-09-2018\n" + "10.28.2017\n" + "Jun 1, 2004\n" + "Feb 3rd, 2002\n" + "07.31.2004\n" + "Jan 26 2009\n" + "12/04/2009\n" + "Jan 21st, 2020\n" + "February 18 2015\n" + "10.28.2018\n" + "Oct 16th, 2020\n" + "February 23, 2002\n" + "08-29-2001\n" + "August 22 2002\n" + "June 22nd, 2009\n" + "09.06.2006\n" + "Oct 14th 2003\n" + "October 24th, 2005\n" + "09-30-2000\n" + "September 24th 2007\n" + "11-19-2020\n" + "03-21-2004\n" + "02/24/2004\n" + "08/30/2011\n" + "September 27 2003\n" + "Aug 3 2003\n" + "August 15, 2014\n" + "October 17 2019\n" + "June 26th 2011\n" + "05.16.2021\n" + "12-21-2018\n" + "August 19th 2003\n" + "June 2nd, 2022\n" + "November 11th, 1999\n" + "August 10 2012\n" + "Jan 28th 2019\n" + "Jun 10th 2012\n" + "Jan 18th, 2014\n" + "October 30, 2015\n" + "April 21 2000\n" + "August 18 2002\n" + "September 1, 2014\n" + "Sep 9th 2003\n" + "09-16-2007\n" + "May 3rd, 2003\n" + "March 16, 2016\n" + "Jul 24 2002\n" + "08-19-1999\n" + "February 3, 2013\n" + "January 17 2010\n" + "11-12-2002\n" + "January 29 2006\n" + "04.24.2004\n" + "Aug 25, 2002\n" + "October 16 2001\n" + "August 15 2022\n" + "06-20-2011\n" + "06-27-2004\n" + "December 28, 2015\n" + "Apr 1st 2004\n" + "Sep 21, 2002\n" + "Oct 19th, 2007\n" + "August 12, 1999\n" + "January 29, 2012\n" + "04.01.1998\n" + "10.06.2021\n" + "October 31, 2012\n" + "April 28th, 2017\n" + "March 5, 2019\n" + "04/01/2016\n" + "03.12.2016\n" + "Dec 23rd, 2010\n" + "02-15-2022\n" + "January 14 2016\n" + "05/23/2019\n" + "07.10.2012\n" + "Sep 25th, 2001\n" + "10/14/2003\n" + "March 30th 2021\n" + "April 25th, 1999\n" + "Mar 20th 2015\n" + "Apr 17th, 2011\n" + "11-30-2007\n" + "04/21/2001\n" + "08/07/2006\n" + "November 15 2002\n" + "11-30-2014\n" + "07/26/2013\n" + "February 8, 2020\n" + "06.17.1999\n" + "01/13/2002\n" + "10/19/2009\n" + "12-20-2020\n" + "March 5 2001\n" + "10.05.2010\n" + "Feb 22nd, 2020\n" + "May 25th, 2013\n" + "12-06-1998\n" + "09.05.2013\n" + "05.09.2014\n" + "12/30/2016\n" + "May 2 2003\n" + "07.10.2006\n" + "07.17.2011\n" + "11/04/2006\n" + "April 29 2018\n" + "03-27-2005\n" + "May 1, 2006\n" + "02.23.2002\n" + "03.02.1998\n" + "12/12/2002\n" + "08-08-2002\n" + "08/31/2018\n" + "05-10-2011\n" + "07.10.2015\n" + "12.02.2012\n" + "Aug 4, 2022\n" + "06.12.2021\n" + "01.13.2020\n" + "October 1st 1998\n" + "August 19, 2013\n" + "Mar 18 2021\n" + "06.18.2009\n" + "08.12.2012\n" + "10-03-2022\n" + "04-21-2018\n" + "10/30/2015\n" + "May 14 2019\n" + "05/22/2012\n" + "02.18.2014\n" + "03.20.2022\n" + "01.09.2006\n" + "March 2 2014\n" + "Mar 16 2011\n" + "10-08-1999\n" + "09-14-2010\n" + "11.23.2002\n" + "April 28th, 2004\n" + "04-12-2007\n" + "June 1st 2003\n" + "July 2nd 2007\n" + "December 14, 2016\n" + "10/26/2019\n" + "February 11th 2015\n" + "February 12th, 2018\n" + "01/08/2004\n" + "September 22nd, 2004\n" + "August 17th, 2000\n" + "November 22nd 2021\n" + "June 10th 2003\n" + "Jul 17th 1999\n" + "09-01-2014\n" + "July 21st 2015\n" + "January 11 2013\n" + "03/04/2005\n" + "02-08-2018\n" + "Mar 20, 2001\n" + "04/03/2016\n" + "September 11, 2021\n" + "01/30/2016\n" + "April 8 2009\n" + "05/08/2010\n" + "Jan 15th 2008\n" + "02-13-2022\n" + "Apr 15th, 2016\n" + "Sep 4 2020\n" + "Nov 10, 2008\n" + "March 30 2014\n" + "07.27.2005\n" + "01.27.2021\n" + "June 9th 2021\n" + "Feb 23rd, 2020\n" + "06.05.2015\n" + "02-23-2000\n" + "Feb 12, 2020\n" + "May 1st 1998\n" + "03/08/2017\n" + "03-27-2007\n" + "July 13, 1998\n" + "01/01/2000\n" + "Apr 2, 1998\n" + "02.14.2014\n" + "Mar 22 2005\n" + "Jan 4 2012\n" + "08-28-2015\n" + "Jan 21st, 2015\n" + "Jul 7th, 2006\n" + "05-04-2004\n" + "Apr 4, 1999\n" + "11/04/2016\n" + "10-26-2009\n" + "June 22 2006\n" + "08/24/2022\n" + "12-14-2012\n" + "Feb 28, 2001\n" + "09/21/2000\n" + "Aug 24, 2016\n" + "October 22nd, 2001\n" + "June 21, 2005\n" + "August 27th, 2018\n" + "Feb 26th, 2020\n" + "February 14th, 2012\n" + "06.01.2008\n" + "07/20/2017\n" + "02.10.2022\n" + "July 27th 2009\n" + "10-08-2016\n" + "09/03/2005\n" + "Apr 12, 2005\n" + "Nov 22 2016\n" + "Mar 24, 2002\n" + "Sep 5, 1999\n" + "March 29th 1999\n" + "Feb 4, 1999\n" + "08/17/2002\n" + "November 13 2014\n" + "02-08-2013\n" + "Aug 1, 2009\n" + "Oct 8, 2015\n" + "03-20-2003\n" + "Mar 16, 2012\n" + "Nov 4 2017\n" + "Jan 28th, 2008\n" + "10-13-2017\n" + "Oct 24th 2012\n" + "Jul 11, 2003\n" + "Apr 17 2013\n" + "November 20th, 2020\n" + "09.06.2013\n" + "June 2, 2012\n" + "09/13/2010\n" + "Sep 28th, 2000\n" + "07-06-2005\n" + "Dec 13 2007\n" + "September 4 2004\n" + "June 20, 2010\n" + "12/28/2013\n" + "Mar 24 2004\n" + "March 8, 2012\n" + "02-18-2008\n" + "April 24 2013\n" + "02-27-2003\n" + "03.10.2022\n" + "Jul 18 2020\n" + "02-05-2004\n" + "03/26/2014\n" + "September 18th 1999\n" + "04/04/2021\n" + "June 10th, 2014\n" + "Jul 6th, 2007\n" + "April 21st 2022\n" + "09-17-2012\n" + "09/17/1999\n" + "03.22.1998\n" + "06/15/2000\n" + "January 11 2008\n" + "March 5, 1999\n" + "11/07/2011\n" + "04/22/2017\n" + "05-21-2012\n" + "Aug 2 2011"; 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