Datasheet

Method Description

int flags() Returns an integer containing the flags set when

the regular expression was compiled.

Matcher matcher(CharSequence input) Returns a Matcher to use for matching the pattern

against the specified input.

String pattern() Returns the regular expression that was used to

create the pattern.

String[] split(CharSequence input) Returns an array of strings after splitting the input

String[] split(CharSequence input,

into chunks using the regular expression as a

int limit)

separator. The limit can be used to limit how many

times the regular expression is matched. The match-

ing text does not get placed into the array. If

limit

is positive, the pattern will be applied at least “limit

minus 1” times. If

limit is 0, the pattern will be

applied as many times as it can, and trailing empty

strings are removed. If

limit is negative, the pat-

tern will be applied as many times as it can, and

trailing empty strings will be left in the array.

The Matcher Class

The Matcher class is used to use a pattern to compare to an input string, and perform a wide variety of

useful tasks. The

Matcher class provides the ability to get a variety of information such as where in the

string a pattern matched, replace a matching subset of the string with another string, and other useful

operations.

Method Description

static String Returns a string that is quoted with \Q and \E and can be used

quoteReplacement(String s) to match literally with other input.

Matcher appendReplacement First appends all characters up to a match to the string buffer,

(StringBuffer sb, String then replaces the matching text with replacement, then sets

replacement) the index to one position after the text matched to prepare for

the next call to this method. Use

appendTail to append the

rest of the input after the last match.

StringBuffer appendTail Appends the rest of the input sequence to the string buffer that

(StringBuffer sb) is passed in.

MatchResult asResult() Returns a reference to a MatchResult describing the matcher’s

state.

int end() Returns the index that is one past the ending position of the last

match.

Part I: Thinking Like a Java Developer

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