Basic Syntax
Regular expressions (regex) are sequences of characters that define search patterns. Here's a quick overview:
- Literal characters: Match exact text (e.g.,
a,b,c) - Metacharacters: Special symbols like
.(match any character),*(0 or more repetitions),+(1 or more repetitions) - Character classes:
[abc]matches any single character in the set - Anchors:
^(start of line),$(end of line)
Common Meta Characters
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
. |
Any character except newline |
* |
0 or more of the preceding element |
+ |
1 or more of the preceding element |
? |
0 or 1 of the preceding element |
^ |
Start of a string |
$ |
End of a string |
Regex Tips ✨
- Use
^and$to ensure full string matches - Escape special characters with
\when needed - Test patterns with tools like Regex Tester
- Avoid overly complex patterns for performance
Expand Your Knowledge 📚
For deeper understanding, check out our Regex Tutorial or explore Regex Examples to see practical applications.