How to use regex groups in Java

Question

I need to replace string 'name' with fullName in the following kind of strings:

software : (publisher:abc and name:oracle)

This needs to be replaced as:

software : (publisher:abc and fullName:xyz)

Now, basically, part "name:xyz" can come anywhere inside parenthesis. e.g.

software:(name:xyz)

I am trying to use groups and the regex I built looks :

(\bsoftware\s*?:\s*?\()((.*?)(\s*?(and|or)\s*?))(\bname:.*?\)\s|:.*?\)$)

Please check regex101.com/r/81r4Wq/2, \b(software\s*:\s*\([^()]*)\bname:\w+ => $1fullName:xyz — Wiktor Stribiżew
– Wiktor Stribiżew, Commented Jul 12, 2019 at 10:37

Wiktor Stribiżew · Accepted Answer · 2019-07-12 11:35:47Z

1

You may use

\b(software\s*:\s*\([^()]*)\bname:\w+

and replace with $1fullName:xyz. See the regex demo and the regex graph:

Details

\b - word boundary
(software\s*:\s*\([^()]*) - Capturing group 1 ($1 in the replacement pattern is a placeholder for the value captured in this group):
- software - a word
- \s*:\s* - a : enclosed with 0+ whitespaces
- \( - a ( char
- [^()]* - 0 or more chars other than ( and )
\bname - whole word name
: - colon
\w+ - 1 or more letters, digits or underscores.

Java sample code:

String result = s.replaceAll("\\b(software\\s*:\\s*\\([^()]*)\\bname:\\w+", "$1fullName:xyz");

answered Jul 12, 2019 at 11:35

Wiktor Stribiżew

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