Create regex from string javascript

Question

I have a question regarding creating a regex from a string. The code is in javascript, basically a variable gets a string. I am not sure how to convert the string to the regex. Here is the code

  var string = "the code";
  var regex = /(the |code )/g;

How can I convert my string to regex using javascript?

I feel you are looking for hole word matching. I'd use /\b(?:the|code)\b/g. Then, var myRegex = new RegExp('\\b(?:' + str.replace(/ /g,'|') + ')\\b','g');. Or a more universal: var myRegex = new RegExp('(^|\\W)(?:' + str.replace(/ /g,'|') + ')(?!\\w)','g');. — Wiktor Stribiżew
– Wiktor Stribiżew, Commented Oct 8, 2015 at 20:02

taxicala · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-08 17:15:01Z

7

use RegExp:

var stringRe = "the code";
var re = new RegExp(stringRe, "g");

answered Oct 8, 2015 at 17:15

taxicala

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Comments

CD.. · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-08 17:14:39Z

2

Using the RegExp constructor, like this:

var regex = new RegExp(str, 'g');

answered Oct 8, 2015 at 17:14

CD..

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1 Comment

user663031 Over a year ago

The OP may or may not know how to use the RegExp constructor, but it seems pretty clear he wants to create a regexp to look for any of the words in the string.

Jonathan M · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-08 17:16:58Z

0

Try something like this:

var str = "the code";
var myRegex = new RegExp('(' + str.replace(' ','|') + ')','g');

answered Oct 8, 2015 at 17:16

Jonathan M

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5 Comments

Wiktor Stribiżew Over a year ago

myRegex is /(the|code)/g - not what is expected.

user663031 Over a year ago

What do the parentheses do?

Jonathan M Over a year ago

@stribizhev, good point. I was just giving him a way to create the regex he specified in his question.

vstepaniuk Over a year ago

no need for parenthesis here

Jonathan M Over a year ago

@vstepaniuk, please see my comment immediately above yours.

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