1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. Python

Python Regular Expression Examples: Order

From Al Lukaszewski, for About.com

Definition:
>>> import re
>>> x = '\nBeneath the wide and starry sky, \nDig the grave and let me lie, \nGlad did I live and gladly die, \nAnd I lay me down with a will:\n\nThis be the verse you grave for me: \nHere he lies where he longed to be, \nHome is the sailor, home from sea, \nAnd the hunter home from the hill.\n\n-- "Requiem" by Robert Louis Stevenson\n\n'
>>> y = re.compile('(?<=wide and)) starry')
>>> z = re.split(y,x)
>>> z
['\nBeneath the wide and', 'wide and', ' sky, \nDig the grave and let me lie, \nGlad did I live and gladly die, \nAnd I lay me down with a will:\n\nThis be the verse you grave for me: \nHere he lies where he longed to be, \nHome is the sailor, home from sea, \nAnd the hunter home from the hill.\n\n-- "Requiem" by Robert Louis Stevenson\n\n']

>>> z = re.search(y,x)
>>> print z.group(0)
starry
>>> print z.group(1)
wide and

>>> y = re.compile('(?<=(wide)) and')
>>> z = re.split(y,x)
>>> for i in z: print i
...

Beneath the wide
wide
starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie,
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I lay me down with a will:

This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be,
Home is the sailor, home from sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.

-- "Requiem" by Robert Louis Stevenson

Back to the main index of this glossary
Explore Python
About.com Special Features

Stay connected and entertained with reviews on tips on the latest HDTVs, cellphones and more. More >

Easy ways to connect two computers for networking purposes. More >

  1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. Python
  4. Regular Expressions
  5. Python RegEx Examples
  6. Python RegEx - Python Regular Expressions - Examples - Order

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.