How to extract multiple string values from a sentence using regex?

Question

I have multiple lines of text in a following format .

Hello {user}, you have been awarded {x} points for being active for more than {y} days.

How do I extract these specific variables using Regex?

e.g. -

Hello john, you have been awarded 10 points for being active for more than 2 days.

Upon extracting, I should get john (user), 10 (x) and 2 (y) from above line.

p.s. - I am using java and I need to get it done using regex.

Are you bound to using regex? I can do it w/o it and get the data you want from it. — Rabbit Guy
– Rabbit Guy, Commented Jul 14, 2016 at 14:39
Hello ([^,]+) - The first group contains the name. Do the same for others. If you have control on creating the string, I wouldn't recommend using regex. — Maroun
– Maroun, Commented Jul 14, 2016 at 14:39
Hello (\\w+), you have been awarded (\\d+) points for being active for more than (\\d+) days should do — anubhava
– anubhava, Commented Jul 14, 2016 at 14:39
@MarounMaroun : Well, I have many of such string formats and many strings. So I find regex is the only generalized approach to extract groups from these. Otherwise my logic would change per every format. — Heisenberg
– Heisenberg, Commented Jul 14, 2016 at 14:46
"I have many such string formats" - what does this mean? Give an example of one of the "other" formats. — FredK
– FredK, Commented Jul 14, 2016 at 14:53

José Castro · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-14 14:40:50Z

2

You could go with the following regex:

/Hello (\w+), you have been awarded (\d+) points? for being active for more than (\d+) days?\./

Do note that I included questions marks after the plural form of "points" and "days", just in case they happen to be singular.

I am also assuming that the username is comprised of word characters only; if not, the \w+ should be updated accordingly.

answered Jul 14, 2016 at 14:40

José Castro

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