Syntax
match (expression1,expression2)
Description
The match function matches the string value expression1 with the value of expression2. The value of expression2 is a regular expression. If the regular expression matches expression1, the match function returns a true value, otherwise it returns a false value.
If the match function returns a true value, you can use the result function to return the substring of expression1 that matched the regular expression.
Table 6-7: Regular Expressions
Pattern Description
c Matches itself (c can be any character except the special characters \ * . [ $).
\c Matches single special character c (c can be one of the special characters \ * . [ $).
. Matches any single character.
[class] Matches any single character in class. Class is one or more single characters, a range of characters
a-b, or a combination.
[^class] Matches any single character not in class. Class is one or more single characters, a range of
characters a-b, or a combination.
re* Matches 0 or more occurrences of the single character regular expression re.
re\{m\} Matches exactly m occurrences of the single character regular expression re.
re\{m,\} Matches at least m occurrences of the single character regular expression re.
re\{m,n\} Matches from m through n occurrences of the single character regular expression re.
\(re\) Matches the regular expression re and saves the string matched by re
\n Matches the saved string from the n'th \(...\)
^ At the beginning of a regular expression, ^ matches the beginning of expression1
$ At the end of a regular expression, $ matches the end of expression1
re re Matches first regular expression followed by the second regular expression
Examples
match(x,"abc") Matches the string abc anywhere in x.
match(x,"^abc") Matches the string abc at the beginning of x.
match(x,"abc$") Matches the string abc at the end of x.
match(x,"a\\c") Matches the string a\c anywhere in x.
match(phone,"([0-9]\{3\})[0-9]\{3\}-[0-9]\{4\}")
Matches a phone number in phone.