Javascript regexp match with exception

Question

The input is an absolute path for example:

/usr/local/lib/node_modules/normalize
/usr/local/lib/node_modules/bobcat/index.js

I want to create a regex that matches EVERYTHING except when "bobcat" was found in the string:

This is what I got to match everything:

var pattern = /node_modules/g;
var matches = pattern.test(input);

How can I do this?

It's better to use two simple regular expressions than a single complex one. — zzzzBov
– zzzzBov, Commented Apr 4, 2016 at 19:47
how about a negation? var pattern = /bobcat/, matches = !pattern.test(input); — Thomas
– Thomas, Commented Apr 4, 2016 at 19:54

anubhava · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-04 19:46:03Z

2

You can use a negative lookahead regex:

/node_modules(?!.*\/bobcat\/)/g

(?!.*\/bobcat\/) is negative lookahead that will fail the match if /bobcat/ comes after node_modules.

answered Apr 4, 2016 at 19:46

anubhava

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Comments

slartidan · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-04 19:48:24Z

1

Make an if/else statement and check if /bobycat/ matches. Put your code in the else part.

answered Apr 4, 2016 at 19:48

slartidan

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