Pattern helper : Introduction « Regular Expressions « Java Tutorial






/*
 * Static String formatting and query routines.
 * Copyright (C) 2001-2005 Stephen Ostermiller
 * http://ostermiller.org/contact.pl?regarding=Java+Utilities
 *
 * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
 * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
 * (at your option) any later version.
 *
 * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
 * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
 * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
 * GNU General Public License for more details.
 *
 * See COPYING.TXT for details.
 */


import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.regex.Pattern;

/**
 * Utilities for String formatting, manipulation, and queries.
 * More information about this class is available from <a target="_top" href=
 * "http://ostermiller.org/utils/StringHelper.html">ostermiller.org</a>.
 *
 * @author Stephen Ostermiller http://ostermiller.org/contact.pl?regarding=Java+Utilities
 * @since ostermillerutils 1.00.00
 */
public class StringHelper {



  /**
   * Build a regular expression that is each of the terms or'd together.
   *
   * @param terms a list of search terms.
   * @param sb place to build the regular expression.
   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the length of terms is zero.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  private static void buildFindAnyPattern(String[] terms, StringBuffer sb){
    if (terms.length == 0) throw new IllegalArgumentException("There must be at least one term to find.");
    sb.append("(?:");
    for (int i=0; i<terms.length; i++){
      if (i>0) sb.append("|");
      sb.append("(?:");
      sb.append(escapeRegularExpressionLiteral(terms[i]));
      sb.append(")");
    }
    sb.append(")");
  }

  /**
   * Compile a pattern that can will match a string if the string
   * contains any of the given terms.
   * 
   * Usage:<br>
   * <code>boolean b = getContainsAnyPattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();</code>
   * 
   * If multiple strings are matched against the same set of terms,
   * it is more efficient to reuse the pattern returned by this function.
   *
   * @param terms Array of search strings.
   * @return Compiled pattern that can be used to match a string to see if it contains any of the terms.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  public static Pattern getContainsAnyPattern(String[] terms){
    StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
    sb.append("(?s).*");
    buildFindAnyPattern(terms, sb);
    sb.append(".*");
    return Pattern.compile(sb.toString());
  }

  /**
   * Compile a pattern that can will match a string if the string
   * equals any of the given terms.
   * 
   * Usage:<br>
   * <code>boolean b = getEqualsAnyPattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();</code>
   * 
   * If multiple strings are matched against the same set of terms,
   * it is more efficient to reuse the pattern returned by this function.
   *
   * @param terms Array of search strings.
   * @return Compiled pattern that can be used to match a string to see if it equals any of the terms.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
   public static Pattern getEqualsAnyPattern(String[] terms){
    StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
    sb.append("(?s)\\A");
    buildFindAnyPattern(terms, sb);
    sb.append("\\z");
    return Pattern.compile(sb.toString());
  }

  /**
   * Compile a pattern that can will match a string if the string
   * starts with any of the given terms.
   * 
   * Usage:<br>
   * <code>boolean b = getStartsWithAnyPattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();</code>
   * 
   * If multiple strings are matched against the same set of terms,
   * it is more efficient to reuse the pattern returned by this function.
   *
   * @param terms Array of search strings.
   * @return Compiled pattern that can be used to match a string to see if it starts with any of the terms.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
   public static Pattern getStartsWithAnyPattern(String[] terms){
    StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
    sb.append("(?s)\\A");
    buildFindAnyPattern(terms, sb);
    sb.append(".*");
    return Pattern.compile(sb.toString());
  }

  /**
   * Compile a pattern that can will match a string if the string
   * ends with any of the given terms.
   * 
   * Usage:<br>
   * <code>boolean b = getEndsWithAnyPattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();</code>
   * 
   * If multiple strings are matched against the same set of terms,
   * it is more efficient to reuse the pattern returned by this function.
   *
   * @param terms Array of search strings.
   * @return Compiled pattern that can be used to match a string to see if it ends with any of the terms.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  public static Pattern getEndsWithAnyPattern(String[] terms){
    StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
    sb.append("(?s).*");
    buildFindAnyPattern(terms, sb);
    sb.append("\\z");
    return Pattern.compile(sb.toString());
  }

  /**
   * Compile a pattern that can will match a string if the string
   * contains any of the given terms.
   * 
   * Case is ignored when matching using Unicode case rules.
   * 
   * Usage:<br>
   * <code>boolean b = getContainsAnyPattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();</code>
   * 
   * If multiple strings are matched against the same set of terms,
   * it is more efficient to reuse the pattern returned by this function.
   *
   * @param terms Array of search strings.
   * @return Compiled pattern that can be used to match a string to see if it contains any of the terms.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  public static Pattern getContainsAnyIgnoreCasePattern(String[] terms){
    StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
    sb.append("(?i)(?u)(?s).*");
    buildFindAnyPattern(terms, sb);
    sb.append(".*");
    return Pattern.compile(sb.toString());
  }

  /**
   * Compile a pattern that can will match a string if the string
   * equals any of the given terms.
   * 
   * Case is ignored when matching using Unicode case rules.
   * 
   * Usage:<br>
   * <code>boolean b = getEqualsAnyPattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();</code>
   * 
   * If multiple strings are matched against the same set of terms,
   * it is more efficient to reuse the pattern returned by this function.
   *
   * @param terms Array of search strings.
   * @return Compiled pattern that can be used to match a string to see if it equals any of the terms.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
   public static Pattern getEqualsAnyIgnoreCasePattern(String[] terms){
    StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
    sb.append("(?i)(?u)(?s)\\A");
    buildFindAnyPattern(terms, sb);
    sb.append("\\z");
    return Pattern.compile(sb.toString());
  }

  /**
   * Compile a pattern that can will match a string if the string
   * starts with any of the given terms.
   * 
   * Case is ignored when matching using Unicode case rules.
   * 
   * Usage:<br>
   * <code>boolean b = getStartsWithAnyPattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();</code>
   * 
   * If multiple strings are matched against the same set of terms,
   * it is more efficient to reuse the pattern returned by this function.
   *
   * @param terms Array of search strings.
   * @return Compiled pattern that can be used to match a string to see if it starts with any of the terms.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
   public static Pattern getStartsWithAnyIgnoreCasePattern(String[] terms){
    StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
    sb.append("(?i)(?u)(?s)\\A");
    buildFindAnyPattern(terms, sb);
    sb.append(".*");
    return Pattern.compile(sb.toString());
  }

  /**
   * Compile a pattern that can will match a string if the string
   * ends with any of the given terms.
   * 
   * Case is ignored when matching using Unicode case rules.
   * 
   * Usage:<br>
   * <code>boolean b = getEndsWithAnyPattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();</code>
   * 
   * If multiple strings are matched against the same set of terms,
   * it is more efficient to reuse the pattern returned by this function.
   *
   * @param terms Array of search strings.
   * @return Compiled pattern that can be used to match a string to see if it ends with any of the terms.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  public static Pattern getEndsWithAnyIgnoreCasePattern(String[] terms){
    StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
    sb.append("(?i)(?u)(?s).*");
    buildFindAnyPattern(terms, sb);
    sb.append("\\z");
    return Pattern.compile(sb.toString());
  }

  /**
   * Tests to see if the given string contains any of the given terms.
   * 
   * This implementation is more efficient than the brute force approach
   * of testing the string against each of the terms.  It instead compiles
   * a single regular expression that can test all the terms at once, and
   * uses that expression against the string.
   * 
   * This is a convenience method.  If multiple strings are tested against
   * the same set of terms, it is more efficient not to compile the regular
   * expression multiple times.
   * @see #getContainsAnyPattern(String[])
   *
   * @param s String that may contain any of the given terms.
   * @param terms list of substrings that may be contained in the given string.
   * @return true iff one of the terms is a substring of the given string.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  public static boolean containsAny(String s, String[] terms){
    return getContainsAnyPattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();
  }

  /**
   * Tests to see if the given string equals any of the given terms.
   * 
   * This implementation is more efficient than the brute force approach
   * of testing the string against each of the terms.  It instead compiles
   * a single regular expression that can test all the terms at once, and
   * uses that expression against the string.
   * 
   * This is a convenience method.  If multiple strings are tested against
   * the same set of terms, it is more efficient not to compile the regular
   * expression multiple times.
   * @see #getEqualsAnyPattern(String[])
   *
   * @param s String that may equal any of the given terms.
   * @param terms list of strings that may equal the given string.
   * @return true iff one of the terms is equal to the given string.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  public static boolean equalsAny(String s, String[] terms){
    return getEqualsAnyPattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();
  }

  /**
   * Tests to see if the given string starts with any of the given terms.
   * 
   * This implementation is more efficient than the brute force approach
   * of testing the string against each of the terms.  It instead compiles
   * a single regular expression that can test all the terms at once, and
   * uses that expression against the string.
   * 
   * This is a convenience method.  If multiple strings are tested against
   * the same set of terms, it is more efficient not to compile the regular
   * expression multiple times.
   * @see #getStartsWithAnyPattern(String[])
   *
   * @param s String that may start with any of the given terms.
   * @param terms list of strings that may start with the given string.
   * @return true iff the given string starts with one of the given terms.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  public static boolean startsWithAny(String s, String[] terms){
    return getStartsWithAnyPattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();
  }

  /**
   * Tests to see if the given string ends with any of the given terms.
   * 
   * This implementation is more efficient than the brute force approach
   * of testing the string against each of the terms.  It instead compiles
   * a single regular expression that can test all the terms at once, and
   * uses that expression against the string.
   * 
   * This is a convenience method.  If multiple strings are tested against
   * the same set of terms, it is more efficient not to compile the regular
   * expression multiple times.
   * @see #getEndsWithAnyPattern(String[])
   *
   * @param s String that may end with any of the given terms.
   * @param terms list of strings that may end with the given string.
   * @return true iff the given string ends with one of the given terms.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  public static boolean endsWithAny(String s, String[] terms){
    return getEndsWithAnyPattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();
  }

  /**
   * Tests to see if the given string contains any of the given terms.
   * 
   * Case is ignored when matching using Unicode case rules.
   * 
   * This implementation is more efficient than the brute force approach
   * of testing the string against each of the terms.  It instead compiles
   * a single regular expression that can test all the terms at once, and
   * uses that expression against the string.
   * 
   * This is a convenience method.  If multiple strings are tested against
   * the same set of terms, it is more efficient not to compile the regular
   * expression multiple times.
   * @see #getContainsAnyIgnoreCasePattern(String[])
   *
   * @param s String that may contain any of the given terms.
   * @param terms list of substrings that may be contained in the given string.
   * @return true iff one of the terms is a substring of the given string.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  public static boolean containsAnyIgnoreCase(String s, String[] terms){
    return getContainsAnyIgnoreCasePattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();
  }

  /**
   * Tests to see if the given string equals any of the given terms.
   * 
   * Case is ignored when matching using Unicode case rules.
   * 
   * This implementation is more efficient than the brute force approach
   * of testing the string against each of the terms.  It instead compiles
   * a single regular expression that can test all the terms at once, and
   * uses that expression against the string.
   * 
   * This is a convenience method.  If multiple strings are tested against
   * the same set of terms, it is more efficient not to compile the regular
   * expression multiple times.
   * @see #getEqualsAnyIgnoreCasePattern(String[])
   *
   * @param s String that may equal any of the given terms.
   * @param terms list of strings that may equal the given string.
   * @return true iff one of the terms is equal to the given string.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  public static boolean equalsAnyIgnoreCase(String s, String[] terms){
    return getEqualsAnyIgnoreCasePattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();
  }

  /**
   * Tests to see if the given string starts with any of the given terms.
   * 
   * Case is ignored when matching using Unicode case rules.
   * 
   * This implementation is more efficient than the brute force approach
   * of testing the string against each of the terms.  It instead compiles
   * a single regular expression that can test all the terms at once, and
   * uses that expression against the string.
   * 
   * This is a convenience method.  If multiple strings are tested against
   * the same set of terms, it is more efficient not to compile the regular
   * expression multiple times.
   * @see #getStartsWithAnyIgnoreCasePattern(String[])
   *
   * @param s String that may start with any of the given terms.
   * @param terms list of strings that may start with the given string.
   * @return true iff the given string starts with one of the given terms.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  public static boolean startsWithAnyIgnoreCase(String s, String[] terms){
    return getStartsWithAnyIgnoreCasePattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();
  }

  /**
   * Tests to see if the given string ends with any of the given terms.
   * 
   * Case is ignored when matching using Unicode case rules.
   * 
   * This implementation is more efficient than the brute force approach
   * of testing the string against each of the terms.  It instead compiles
   * a single regular expression that can test all the terms at once, and
   * uses that expression against the string.
   * 
   * This is a convenience method.  If multiple strings are tested against
   * the same set of terms, it is more efficient not to compile the regular
   * expression multiple times.
   * @see #getEndsWithAnyIgnoreCasePattern(String[])
   *
   * @param s String that may end with any of the given terms.
   * @param terms list of strings that may end with the given string.
   * @return true iff the given string ends with one of the given terms.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  public static boolean endsWithAnyIgnoreCase(String s, String[] terms){
    return getEndsWithAnyIgnoreCasePattern(terms).matcher(s).matches();
  }

  /**
   * Escapes characters that have special meaning to
   * regular expressions
   *
   * @param s String to be escaped
   * @return escaped String
   * @throws NullPointerException if s is null.
   *
   * @since ostermillerutils 1.02.25
   */
  public static String escapeRegularExpressionLiteral(String s){
    // According to the documentation in the Pattern class:
    //
    // The backslash character ('\') serves to introduce escaped constructs,
    // as defined in the table above, as well as to quote characters that
    // otherwise would be interpreted as unescaped constructs. Thus the
    // expression \\ matches a single backslash and \{ matches a left brace.
    //
    // It is an error to use a backslash prior to any alphabetic character
    // that does not denote an escaped construct; these are reserved for future
    // extensions to the regular-expression language. A backslash may be used
    // prior to a non-alphabetic character regardless of whether that character
    // is part of an unescaped construct.
    //
    // As a result, escape everything except [0-9a-zA-Z]

    int length = s.length();
    int newLength = length;
    // first check for characters that might
    // be dangerous and calculate a length
    // of the string that has escapes.
    for (int i=0; i<length; i++){
      char c = s.charAt(i);
      if (!((c>='0' && c<='9') || (c>='A' && c<='Z') || (c>='a' && c<='z'))){
        newLength += 1;
      }
    }
    if (length == newLength){
      // nothing to escape in the string
      return s;
    }
    StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer(newLength);
    for (int i=0; i<length; i++){
      char c = s.charAt(i);
      if (!((c>='0' && c<='9') || (c>='A' && c<='Z') || (c>='a' && c<='z'))){
        sb.append('\\');
      }
      sb.append(c);
    }
    return sb.toString();
  }
}








8.1.Introduction
8.1.1.Meta-characters predefined to match specific characters.
8.1.2.Meta-characters to match against certain string boundaries.
8.1.3.Regular expression languages also have character classes.
8.1.4.POSIX character classes and Java character classes
8.1.5.Java Character Class
8.1.6.Match a particular character a specified number of times.
8.1.7.Read regular expression from console
8.1.8.Regex Test Harness
8.1.9.Match Java source file and file and class name
8.1.10.Finding all words that start with an 'a'
8.1.11.Simple validation using the Pattern and Matcher objects
8.1.12.A possessive qualifier
8.1.13.Find the starting point of the second 'Bond'
8.1.14.A negative look ahead
8.1.15.A negative behind ahead
8.1.16.A positive look ahead
8.1.17.Pattern helper
8.1.18.Escapes characters that have special meaning to regular expressions