The basics of regex
At their core, regex is a method for searching, matching, and manipulating text. Think of them as a sophisticated search tool that goes beyond the capabilities of the standard search feature in your text editor or word processor. Regex allows you to define patterns in text, making it possible to perform complex searches and edits with relative ease.
Regex is incredibly versatile. Here are just a few examples of what they can be used for:
- Data validation: Ensuring that user input matches a specific format, such as email addresses or phone numbers
- Data extraction: Pulling specific pieces of information from a larger dataset, such as extracting all URLs from a web page
- Search and replace: Finding and replacing text in a document based on patterns rather than exact matches
The regex alphabet consists of characters and metacharacters. Characters are just what you think: letters, numbers, and symbols that you’re trying to find in your...
