Regex Python not matching, but does on regexpal

Question

I'm currently trying to match phrases like mexico 1 - 2 cameroon using regex, it matches when using regexpal to test the regex, but no match in Python using re.

My regex is:

    regex = '(mexico[\s]*\d[\s]*[-][\s]*\d[\s]*cameroon)|(mexico[\s]*\d[\s]*cameroon[\s]\d)|(mexico[\s]*\d[\s]*[-][\s]*cameroon[\s]*\d)|(cameroon[\s]*\d[\s]*[-][\s]*\d[\s]*mexico)|(cameroon[\s]*\d[\s]*mexico[\s]\d)|(cameroon[\s]*\d[\s]*[-][\s]*mexico[\s]*\d)'

and my test phrase:

testphrase = RT @remitouja: @TheJUMPsociety cameroon 1 - 1 mexico #winecup #WorldCup"

I successfully match in regexpalbut not python, but the testphrase doesn't. But the following matches in both: cameroon 1 - 1 mexico #winecup #WorldCup

Using

if re.match(regex, testtweet) is not None:
        print "Is true"

to test

Show your code please. I suspect you're using re.match while you should be using re.search. — Jerry
– Jerry, Commented Jun 13, 2014 at 16:00
Correct, I am using:if re.match(regex, testtweet) is not None: print "Is true" — Angus Scott
– Angus Scott, Commented Jun 13, 2014 at 16:02

Jerry · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-13 16:04:29Z

4

You need to use re.search.

You are not matching because re.match by default anchors your regex at the start of the string, as if the regex you had was ^(mexico.... (etc):

if re.search(regex, testtweet) is not None:
    print "Is true"

Secondly, it's a good habit to raw your python regex strings my putting an r in front:

regex = r'(mexico[\s]*\d[\s]*[-][\s]*\d[\s]*cameroon)|(mexico[\s]*\d[\s]*cameroon[\s]\d)|(mexico[\s]*\d[\s]*[-][\s]*cameroon[\s]*\d)|(cameroon[\s]*\d[\s]*[-][\s]*\d[\s]*mexico)|(cameroon[\s]*\d[\s]*mexico[\s]\d)|(cameroon[\s]*\d[\s]*[-][\s]*mexico[\s]*\d)'

Next, you don't need to put - between square brackets, or any other character if it is alone. And having many groups might be a handful, so I believe that removing the capture groups should suffice:

regex = r'mexico\s*\d\s*-\s*\d\s*cameroon|mexico\s*\d\s*cameroon\s*\d|mexico\s*\d\s*-\s*cameroon\s*\d|cameroon\s*\d\s*-\s*\d\s*mexico|cameroon\s*\d\s*mexico\s\d|cameroon\s*\d\s*-\s*mexico\s*\d'

answered Jun 13, 2014 at 16:04

Jerry

71.8k14 gold badges106 silver badges148 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Angus Scott Over a year ago

Perfect fixed it, feel a bit daft now!

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Regex Python not matching, but does on regexpal

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related