Javascript Regex matching multiple repeating blocks

Question

I need to match a series of repeating VirtualHost configs in Javascript, Example:

...
# First VHost...
<VirtualHost *:80 *:8082>
    # Any number of configs
    # and set up options for
    # Apache
</VirtualHost>

# Second VHost...
<VirtualHost *:80 *:8082>
    # Any number of configs
    # and set up options for
    # Apache
</VirtualHost>

# Third VHost...
<VirtualHost *:80 *:8082>
    # Any number of configs
    # and set up options for
    # Apache
</VirtualHost>
....

My current RegEx Pattern is:

/<VirtualHost[*:0-9\s]+>([\S\s]+)<\/VirtualHost>/g

I understand that my capturing group is the reason I am getting only one matched set (the whole string as it were), but I don't know how else to capture what is between the VirtualHost blocks.

What I'd like to put output is an array that is: [<first vhost>, <second vhost>, <third vhost>, ...] Any help would be wonderful!

anubhava · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-02 07:31:52Z

3

Use non-greedy regex:

/<VirtualHost[*:0-9\s]+>([\S\s]+?)<\/VirtualHost>/g

RegEx Demo

Difference is [\S\s]+? vs [\S\s]+ which is a greedy rexex and matches as much as possible until last </VirtualHost> is matched.

edited Mar 2, 2015 at 7:31

answered Mar 2, 2015 at 7:23

anubhava

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4 Comments

tbremer Over a year ago

I knew it would be a simple answers. Thanks so much! I will mark as such when SO lets me. Non-greedy, learning something new!

m59 Over a year ago

A deeper explanation of why this works would be much appreciated. It feels too lacking to deserve an upvote.

anubhava Over a year ago

ok I added an explanation in my answer to make it more clear.

İsmail Ceylan Over a year ago

@anubhava That's worked just fine and i learned something new today. I appreciate it.

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