Ruby: generating new Regexps from strings

Question

Is there any way to convert String to Regexp (in Ruby)? Let's say:

'example' ---> /example/

My purpose is generating Regexps dynamically.

sawa · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-24 00:09:48Z

18

regexp = Regexp.new(string)

or

regexp = /#{string}/

If it is possible that string has special characters, then:

regexp = Regexp.new(Regexp.escape(string))

or

regexp = /#{Regexp.escape(string)}/

edited Mar 24, 2011 at 0:09

answered Mar 24, 2011 at 0:03

sawa

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Staffan Nöteberg · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-24 19:28:26Z

4

You can also write...

regex = Regexp.compile(string)

...which is a very descriptive name. This method compiles the source code (string) into a nondeterministic finite automaton (regex). The NFA can then be reused over and over.

answered Mar 24, 2011 at 19:28

Staffan Nöteberg

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kurumi · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-24 00:03:28Z

2

you can try /#{your variable}/

answered Mar 24, 2011 at 0:03

kurumi

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