Java tutorial
import java.util.regex.Matcher; import java.util.regex.Pattern; public class MainClass { public static void main(String args[]) { Pattern p = Pattern.compile("\\d"); Matcher matcher = p.matcher("5"); boolean isOk = matcher.matches(); System.out.println("original pattern matches " + isOk); // recycle the pattern String tmp = p.pattern(); Pattern p2 = Pattern.compile(tmp); matcher = p.matcher("5"); isOk = matcher.matches(); System.out.println("second pattern matches " + isOk); } }