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revision 75 by nigel, Sat Feb 24 21:40:37 2007 UTC | revision 83 by nigel, Sat Feb 24 21:41:06 2007 UTC | |
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# | Line 6 synopses of each function in the library | Line 6 synopses of each function in the library |
6 | separate text files for the pcregrep and pcretest commands. | separate text files for the pcregrep and pcretest commands. |
7 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
8 | ||
PCRE(3) PCRE(3) | ||
9 | ||
10 | PCRE(3) PCRE(3) | |
11 | ||
12 | ||
13 | NAME | NAME |
14 | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions |
15 | ||
16 | ||
17 | INTRODUCTION | INTRODUCTION |
18 | ||
19 | The PCRE library is a set of functions that implement regular expres- | The PCRE library is a set of functions that implement regular expres- |
20 | sion pattern matching using the same syntax and semantics as Perl, with | sion pattern matching using the same syntax and semantics as Perl, with |
21 | just a few differences. The current implementation of PCRE (release | just a few differences. The current implementation of PCRE (release |
22 | 5.x) corresponds approximately with Perl 5.8, including support for | 6.x) corresponds approximately with Perl 5.8, including support for |
23 | UTF-8 encoded strings and Unicode general category properties. However, | UTF-8 encoded strings and Unicode general category properties. However, |
24 | this support has to be explicitly enabled; it is not the default. | this support has to be explicitly enabled; it is not the default. |
25 | ||
26 | In addition to the Perl-compatible matching function, PCRE also con- | |
27 | tains an alternative matching function that matches the same compiled | |
28 | patterns in a different way. In certain circumstances, the alternative | |
29 | function has some advantages. For a discussion of the two matching | |
30 | algorithms, see the pcrematching page. | |
31 | ||
32 | PCRE is written in C and released as a C library. A number of people | PCRE is written in C and released as a C library. A number of people |
33 | have written wrappers and interfaces of various kinds. A C++ class is | have written wrappers and interfaces of various kinds. In particular, |
34 | included in these contributions, which can be found in the Contrib | Google Inc. have provided a comprehensive C++ wrapper. This is now |
35 | directory at the primary FTP site, which is: | included as part of the PCRE distribution. The pcrecpp page has details |
36 | of this interface. Other people's contributions can be found in the | |
37 | Contrib directory at the primary FTP site, which is: | |
38 | ||
39 | ftp://ftp.csx.cam.ac.uk/pub/software/programming/pcre | ftp://ftp.csx.cam.ac.uk/pub/software/programming/pcre |
40 | ||
# | Line 40 INTRODUCTION | Line 49 INTRODUCTION |
49 | ing PCRE for various operating systems can be found in the README file | ing PCRE for various operating systems can be found in the README file |
50 | in the source distribution. | in the source distribution. |
51 | ||
52 | The library contains a number of undocumented internal functions and | |
53 | data tables that are used by more than one of the exported external | |
54 | functions, but which are not intended for use by external callers. | |
55 | Their names all begin with "_pcre_", which hopefully will not provoke | |
56 | any name clashes. In some environments, it is possible to control which | |
57 | external symbols are exported when a shared library is built, and in | |
58 | these cases the undocumented symbols are not exported. | |
59 | ||
60 | ||
61 | USER DOCUMENTATION | USER DOCUMENTATION |
62 | ||
# | Line 50 USER DOCUMENTATION | Line 67 USER DOCUMENTATION |
67 | of searching. The sections are as follows: | of searching. The sections are as follows: |
68 | ||
69 | pcre this document | pcre this document |
70 | pcreapi details of PCRE's native API | pcreapi details of PCRE's native C API |
71 | pcrebuild options for building PCRE | pcrebuild options for building PCRE |
72 | pcrecallout details of the callout feature | pcrecallout details of the callout feature |
73 | pcrecompat discussion of Perl compatibility | pcrecompat discussion of Perl compatibility |
74 | pcrecpp details of the C++ wrapper | |
75 | pcregrep description of the pcregrep command | pcregrep description of the pcregrep command |
76 | pcrematching discussion of the two matching algorithms | |
77 | pcrepartial details of the partial matching facility | pcrepartial details of the partial matching facility |
78 | pcrepattern syntax and semantics of supported | pcrepattern syntax and semantics of supported |
79 | regular expressions | regular expressions |
80 | pcreperform discussion of performance issues | pcreperform discussion of performance issues |
81 | pcreposix the POSIX-compatible API | pcreposix the POSIX-compatible C API |
82 | pcreprecompile details of saving and re-using precompiled patterns | pcreprecompile details of saving and re-using precompiled patterns |
83 | pcresample discussion of the sample program | pcresample discussion of the sample program |
84 | pcretest description of the pcretest testing command | pcretest description of the pcretest testing command |
85 | ||
86 | In addition, in the "man" and HTML formats, there is a short page for | In addition, in the "man" and HTML formats, there is a short page for |
87 | each library function, listing its arguments and results. | each C library function, listing its arguments and results. |
88 | ||
89 | ||
90 | LIMITATIONS | LIMITATIONS |
# | Line 90 LIMITATIONS | Line 109 LIMITATIONS |
109 | tern, is 200. | tern, is 200. |
110 | ||
111 | The maximum length of a subject string is the largest positive number | The maximum length of a subject string is the largest positive number |
112 | that an integer variable can hold. However, PCRE uses recursion to han- | that an integer variable can hold. However, when using the traditional |
113 | dle subpatterns and indefinite repetition. This means that the avail- | matching function, PCRE uses recursion to handle subpatterns and indef- |
114 | able stack space may limit the size of a subject string that can be | inite repetition. This means that the available stack space may limit |
115 | processed by certain patterns. | the size of a subject string that can be processed by certain patterns. |
116 | ||
117 | ||
118 | UTF-8 AND UNICODE PROPERTY SUPPORT | UTF-8 AND UNICODE PROPERTY SUPPORT |
119 | ||
120 | From release 3.3, PCRE has had some support for character strings | From release 3.3, PCRE has had some support for character strings |
121 | encoded in the UTF-8 format. For release 4.0 this was greatly extended | encoded in the UTF-8 format. For release 4.0 this was greatly extended |
122 | to cover most common requirements, and in release 5.0 additional sup- | to cover most common requirements, and in release 5.0 additional sup- |
123 | port for Unicode general category properties was added. | port for Unicode general category properties was added. |
124 | ||
125 | In order process UTF-8 strings, you must build PCRE to include UTF-8 | In order process UTF-8 strings, you must build PCRE to include UTF-8 |
126 | support in the code, and, in addition, you must call pcre_compile() | support in the code, and, in addition, you must call pcre_compile() |
127 | with the PCRE_UTF8 option flag. When you do this, both the pattern and | with the PCRE_UTF8 option flag. When you do this, both the pattern and |
128 | any subject strings that are matched against it are treated as UTF-8 | any subject strings that are matched against it are treated as UTF-8 |
129 | strings instead of just strings of bytes. | strings instead of just strings of bytes. |
130 | ||
131 | If you compile PCRE with UTF-8 support, but do not use it at run time, | If you compile PCRE with UTF-8 support, but do not use it at run time, |
132 | the library will be a bit bigger, but the additional run time overhead | the library will be a bit bigger, but the additional run time overhead |
133 | is limited to testing the PCRE_UTF8 flag in several places, so should | is limited to testing the PCRE_UTF8 flag in several places, so should |
134 | not be very large. | not be very large. |
135 | ||
136 | If PCRE is built with Unicode character property support (which implies | If PCRE is built with Unicode character property support (which implies |
137 | UTF-8 support), the escape sequences \p{..}, \P{..}, and \X are sup- | UTF-8 support), the escape sequences \p{..}, \P{..}, and \X are sup- |
138 | ported. The available properties that can be tested are limited to the | ported. The available properties that can be tested are limited to the |
139 | general category properties such as Lu for an upper case letter or Nd | general category properties such as Lu for an upper case letter or Nd |
140 | for a decimal number. A full list is given in the pcrepattern documen- | for a decimal number. A full list is given in the pcrepattern documen- |
141 | tation. The PCRE library is increased in size by about 90K when Unicode | tation. The PCRE library is increased in size by about 90K when Unicode |
142 | property support is included. | property support is included. |
143 | ||
144 | The following comments apply when PCRE is running in UTF-8 mode: | The following comments apply when PCRE is running in UTF-8 mode: |
145 | ||
146 | 1. When you set the PCRE_UTF8 flag, the strings passed as patterns and | 1. When you set the PCRE_UTF8 flag, the strings passed as patterns and |
147 | subjects are checked for validity on entry to the relevant functions. | subjects are checked for validity on entry to the relevant functions. |
148 | If an invalid UTF-8 string is passed, an error return is given. In some | If an invalid UTF-8 string is passed, an error return is given. In some |
149 | situations, you may already know that your strings are valid, and | situations, you may already know that your strings are valid, and |
150 | therefore want to skip these checks in order to improve performance. If | therefore want to skip these checks in order to improve performance. If |
151 | you set the PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK flag at compile time or at run time, | you set the PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK flag at compile time or at run time, |
152 | PCRE assumes that the pattern or subject it is given (respectively) | PCRE assumes that the pattern or subject it is given (respectively) |
153 | contains only valid UTF-8 codes. In this case, it does not diagnose an | contains only valid UTF-8 codes. In this case, it does not diagnose an |
154 | invalid UTF-8 string. If you pass an invalid UTF-8 string to PCRE when | invalid UTF-8 string. If you pass an invalid UTF-8 string to PCRE when |
155 | PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK is set, the results are undefined. Your program may | PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK is set, the results are undefined. Your program may |
156 | crash. | crash. |
157 | ||
158 | 2. In a pattern, the escape sequence \x{...}, where the contents of the | 2. In a pattern, the escape sequence \x{...}, where the contents of the |
159 | braces is a string of hexadecimal digits, is interpreted as a UTF-8 | braces is a string of hexadecimal digits, is interpreted as a UTF-8 |
160 | character whose code number is the given hexadecimal number, for exam- | character whose code number is the given hexadecimal number, for exam- |
161 | ple: \x{1234}. If a non-hexadecimal digit appears between the braces, | ple: \x{1234}. If a non-hexadecimal digit appears between the braces, |
162 | the item is not recognized. This escape sequence can be used either as | the item is not recognized. This escape sequence can be used either as |
163 | a literal, or within a character class. | a literal, or within a character class. |
164 | ||
165 | 3. The original hexadecimal escape sequence, \xhh, matches a two-byte | 3. The original hexadecimal escape sequence, \xhh, matches a two-byte |
166 | UTF-8 character if the value is greater than 127. | UTF-8 character if the value is greater than 127. |
167 | ||
168 | 4. Repeat quantifiers apply to complete UTF-8 characters, not to indi- | 4. Repeat quantifiers apply to complete UTF-8 characters, not to indi- |
169 | vidual bytes, for example: \x{100}{3}. | vidual bytes, for example: \x{100}{3}. |
170 | ||
171 | 5. The dot metacharacter matches one UTF-8 character instead of a sin- | 5. The dot metacharacter matches one UTF-8 character instead of a sin- |
172 | gle byte. | gle byte. |
173 | ||
174 | 6. The escape sequence \C can be used to match a single byte in UTF-8 | 6. The escape sequence \C can be used to match a single byte in UTF-8 |
175 | mode, but its use can lead to some strange effects. | mode, but its use can lead to some strange effects. This facility is |
176 | not available in the alternative matching function, pcre_dfa_exec(). | |
177 | ||
178 | 7. The character escapes \b, \B, \d, \D, \s, \S, \w, and \W correctly | 7. The character escapes \b, \B, \d, \D, \s, \S, \w, and \W correctly |
179 | test characters of any code value, but the characters that PCRE recog- | test characters of any code value, but the characters that PCRE recog- |
# | Line 177 UTF-8 AND UNICODE PROPERTY SUPPORT | Line 197 UTF-8 AND UNICODE PROPERTY SUPPORT |
197 | ||
198 | AUTHOR | AUTHOR |
199 | ||
200 | Philip Hazel <ph10@cam.ac.uk> | Philip Hazel |
201 | University Computing Service, | University Computing Service, |
202 | Cambridge CB2 3QG, England. | Cambridge CB2 3QG, England. |
Phone: +44 1223 334714 | ||
203 | ||
204 | Last updated: 09 September 2004 | Putting an actual email address here seems to have been a spam magnet, |
205 | Copyright (c) 1997-2004 University of Cambridge. | so I've taken it away. If you want to email me, use my initial and sur- |
206 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | name, separated by a dot, at the domain ucs.cam.ac.uk. |
207 | ||
208 | PCRE(3) PCRE(3) | Last updated: 07 March 2005 |
209 | Copyright (c) 1997-2005 University of Cambridge. | |
210 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | |
211 | ||
212 | ||
213 | PCREBUILD(3) PCREBUILD(3) | |
214 | ||
215 | ||
216 | NAME | NAME |
217 | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions |
218 | ||
219 | ||
220 | PCRE BUILD-TIME OPTIONS | PCRE BUILD-TIME OPTIONS |
221 | ||
222 | This document describes the optional features of PCRE that can be | This document describes the optional features of PCRE that can be |
# | Line 212 PCRE BUILD-TIME OPTIONS | Line 236 PCRE BUILD-TIME OPTIONS |
236 | not described. | not described. |
237 | ||
238 | ||
239 | C++ SUPPORT | |
240 | ||
241 | By default, the configure script will search for a C++ compiler and C++ | |
242 | header files. If it finds them, it automatically builds the C++ wrapper | |
243 | library for PCRE. You can disable this by adding | |
244 | ||
245 | --disable-cpp | |
246 | ||
247 | to the configure command. | |
248 | ||
249 | ||
250 | UTF-8 SUPPORT | UTF-8 SUPPORT |
251 | ||
252 | To build PCRE with support for UTF-8 character strings, add | To build PCRE with support for UTF-8 character strings, add |
# | Line 287 POSIX MALLOC USAGE | Line 322 POSIX MALLOC USAGE |
322 | LIMITING PCRE RESOURCE USAGE | LIMITING PCRE RESOURCE USAGE |
323 | ||
324 | Internally, PCRE has a function called match(), which it calls repeat- | Internally, PCRE has a function called match(), which it calls repeat- |
325 | edly (possibly recursively) when matching a pattern. By controlling the | edly (possibly recursively) when matching a pattern with the |
326 | maximum number of times this function may be called during a single | pcre_exec() function. By controlling the maximum number of times this |
327 | matching operation, a limit can be placed on the resources used by a | function may be called during a single matching operation, a limit can |
328 | single call to pcre_exec(). The limit can be changed at run time, as | be placed on the resources used by a single call to pcre_exec(). The |
329 | described in the pcreapi documentation. The default is 10 million, but | limit can be changed at run time, as described in the pcreapi documen- |
330 | this can be changed by adding a setting such as | tation. The default is 10 million, but this can be changed by adding a |
331 | setting such as | |
332 | ||
333 | --with-match-limit=500000 | --with-match-limit=500000 |
334 | ||
335 | to the configure command. | to the configure command. This setting has no effect on the |
336 | pcre_dfa_exec() matching function. | |
337 | ||
338 | ||
339 | HANDLING VERY LARGE PATTERNS | HANDLING VERY LARGE PATTERNS |
# | Line 324 HANDLING VERY LARGE PATTERNS | Line 361 HANDLING VERY LARGE PATTERNS |
361 | ||
362 | AVOIDING EXCESSIVE STACK USAGE | AVOIDING EXCESSIVE STACK USAGE |
363 | ||
364 | PCRE implements backtracking while matching by making recursive calls | When matching with the pcre_exec() function, PCRE implements backtrack- |
365 | to an internal function called match(). In environments where the size | ing by making recursive calls to an internal function called match(). |
366 | of the stack is limited, this can severely limit PCRE's operation. (The | In environments where the size of the stack is limited, this can se- |
367 | Unix environment does not usually suffer from this problem.) An alter- | verely limit PCRE's operation. (The Unix environment does not usually |
368 | native approach that uses memory from the heap to remember data, | suffer from this problem.) An alternative approach that uses memory |
369 | instead of using recursive function calls, has been implemented to work | from the heap to remember data, instead of using recursive function |
370 | round this problem. If you want to build a version of PCRE that works | calls, has been implemented to work round this problem. If you want to |
371 | this way, add | build a version of PCRE that works this way, add |
372 | ||
373 | --disable-stack-for-recursion | --disable-stack-for-recursion |
374 | ||
# | Line 342 AVOIDING EXCESSIVE STACK USAGE | Line 379 AVOIDING EXCESSIVE STACK USAGE |
379 | the blocks are always freed in reverse order. A calling program might | the blocks are always freed in reverse order. A calling program might |
380 | be able to implement optimized functions that perform better than the | be able to implement optimized functions that perform better than the |
381 | standard malloc() and free() functions. PCRE runs noticeably more | standard malloc() and free() functions. PCRE runs noticeably more |
382 | slowly when built in this way. | slowly when built in this way. This option affects only the pcre_exec() |
383 | function; it is not relevant for the the pcre_dfa_exec() function. | |
384 | ||
385 | ||
386 | USING EBCDIC CODE | USING EBCDIC CODE |
387 | ||
388 | PCRE assumes by default that it will run in an environment where the | PCRE assumes by default that it will run in an environment where the |
389 | character code is ASCII (or Unicode, which is a superset of ASCII). | character code is ASCII (or Unicode, which is a superset of ASCII). |
390 | PCRE can, however, be compiled to run in an EBCDIC environment by | PCRE can, however, be compiled to run in an EBCDIC environment by |
391 | adding | adding |
392 | ||
393 | --enable-ebcdic | --enable-ebcdic |
394 | ||
395 | to the configure command. | to the configure command. |
396 | ||
397 | Last updated: 09 September 2004 | Last updated: 15 August 2005 |
398 | Copyright (c) 1997-2004 University of Cambridge. | Copyright (c) 1997-2005 University of Cambridge. |
399 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
400 | ||
401 | ||
402 | PCREMATCHING(3) PCREMATCHING(3) | |
403 | ||
404 | ||
405 | NAME | |
406 | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions | |
407 | ||
408 | ||
409 | PCRE MATCHING ALGORITHMS | |
410 | ||
411 | This document describes the two different algorithms that are available | |
412 | in PCRE for matching a compiled regular expression against a given sub- | |
413 | ject string. The "standard" algorithm is the one provided by the | |
414 | pcre_exec() function. This works in the same was as Perl's matching | |
415 | function, and provides a Perl-compatible matching operation. | |
416 | ||
417 | An alternative algorithm is provided by the pcre_dfa_exec() function; | |
418 | this operates in a different way, and is not Perl-compatible. It has | |
419 | advantages and disadvantages compared with the standard algorithm, and | |
420 | these are described below. | |
421 | ||
422 | When there is only one possible way in which a given subject string can | |
423 | match a pattern, the two algorithms give the same answer. A difference | |
424 | arises, however, when there are multiple possibilities. For example, if | |
425 | the pattern | |
426 | ||
427 | ^<.*> | |
428 | ||
429 | is matched against the string | |
430 | ||
431 | <something> <something else> <something further> | |
432 | ||
433 | there are three possible answers. The standard algorithm finds only one | |
434 | of them, whereas the DFA algorithm finds all three. | |
435 | ||
436 | ||
437 | REGULAR EXPRESSIONS AS TREES | |
438 | ||
439 | The set of strings that are matched by a regular expression can be rep- | |
440 | resented as a tree structure. An unlimited repetition in the pattern | |
441 | makes the tree of infinite size, but it is still a tree. Matching the | |
442 | pattern to a given subject string (from a given starting point) can be | |
443 | thought of as a search of the tree. There are two standard ways to | |
444 | search a tree: depth-first and breadth-first, and these correspond to | |
445 | the two matching algorithms provided by PCRE. | |
446 | ||
447 | ||
448 | THE STANDARD MATCHING ALGORITHM | |
449 | ||
450 | In the terminology of Jeffrey Friedl's book Mastering Regular Expres- | |
451 | sions, the standard algorithm is an "NFA algorithm". It conducts a | |
452 | depth-first search of the pattern tree. That is, it proceeds along a | |
453 | single path through the tree, checking that the subject matches what is | |
454 | required. When there is a mismatch, the algorithm tries any alterna- | |
455 | tives at the current point, and if they all fail, it backs up to the | |
456 | previous branch point in the tree, and tries the next alternative | |
457 | branch at that level. This often involves backing up (moving to the | |
458 | left) in the subject string as well. The order in which repetition | |
459 | branches are tried is controlled by the greedy or ungreedy nature of | |
460 | the quantifier. | |
461 | ||
462 | If a leaf node is reached, a matching string has been found, and at | |
463 | that point the algorithm stops. Thus, if there is more than one possi- | |
464 | ble match, this algorithm returns the first one that it finds. Whether | |
465 | this is the shortest, the longest, or some intermediate length depends | |
466 | on the way the greedy and ungreedy repetition quantifiers are specified | |
467 | in the pattern. | |
468 | ||
469 | Because it ends up with a single path through the tree, it is rela- | |
470 | tively straightforward for this algorithm to keep track of the sub- | |
471 | strings that are matched by portions of the pattern in parentheses. | |
472 | This provides support for capturing parentheses and back references. | |
473 | ||
474 | ||
475 | THE DFA MATCHING ALGORITHM | |
476 | ||
477 | DFA stands for "deterministic finite automaton", but you do not need to | |
478 | understand the origins of that name. This algorithm conducts a breadth- | |
479 | first search of the tree. Starting from the first matching point in the | |
480 | subject, it scans the subject string from left to right, once, charac- | |
481 | ter by character, and as it does this, it remembers all the paths | |
482 | through the tree that represent valid matches. | |
483 | ||
484 | The scan continues until either the end of the subject is reached, or | |
485 | there are no more unterminated paths. At this point, terminated paths | |
486 | represent the different matching possibilities (if there are none, the | |
487 | match has failed). Thus, if there is more than one possible match, | |
488 | this algorithm finds all of them, and in particular, it finds the long- | |
489 | est. In PCRE, there is an option to stop the algorithm after the first | |
490 | match (which is necessarily the shortest) has been found. | |
491 | ||
492 | Note that all the matches that are found start at the same point in the | |
493 | subject. If the pattern | |
494 | ||
495 | cat(er(pillar)?) | |
496 | ||
497 | is matched against the string "the caterpillar catchment", the result | |
498 | will be the three strings "cat", "cater", and "caterpillar" that start | |
499 | at the fourth character of the subject. The algorithm does not automat- | |
500 | ically move on to find matches that start at later positions. | |
501 | ||
502 | There are a number of features of PCRE regular expressions that are not | |
503 | supported by the DFA matching algorithm. They are as follows: | |
504 | ||
505 | 1. Because the algorithm finds all possible matches, the greedy or | |
506 | ungreedy nature of repetition quantifiers is not relevant. Greedy and | |
507 | ungreedy quantifiers are treated in exactly the same way. | |
508 | ||
509 | 2. When dealing with multiple paths through the tree simultaneously, it | |
510 | is not straightforward to keep track of captured substrings for the | |
511 | different matching possibilities, and PCRE's implementation of this | |
512 | algorithm does not attempt to do this. This means that no captured sub- | |
513 | strings are available. | |
514 | ||
515 | 3. Because no substrings are captured, back references within the pat- | |
516 | tern are not supported, and cause errors if encountered. | |
517 | ||
518 | 4. For the same reason, conditional expressions that use a backrefer- | |
519 | ence as the condition are not supported. | |
520 | ||
521 | 5. Callouts are supported, but the value of the capture_top field is | |
522 | always 1, and the value of the capture_last field is always -1. | |
523 | ||
524 | 6. The \C escape sequence, which (in the standard algorithm) matches a | |
525 | single byte, even in UTF-8 mode, is not supported because the DFA algo- | |
526 | rithm moves through the subject string one character at a time, for all | |
527 | active paths through the tree. | |
528 | ||
529 | ||
530 | ADVANTAGES OF THE DFA ALGORITHM | |
531 | ||
532 | Using the DFA matching algorithm provides the following advantages: | |
533 | ||
534 | 1. All possible matches (at a single point in the subject) are automat- | |
535 | ically found, and in particular, the longest match is found. To find | |
536 | more than one match using the standard algorithm, you have to do kludgy | |
537 | things with callouts. | |
538 | ||
539 | 2. There is much better support for partial matching. The restrictions | |
540 | on the content of the pattern that apply when using the standard algo- | |
541 | rithm for partial matching do not apply to the DFA algorithm. For non- | |
542 | anchored patterns, the starting position of a partial match is avail- | |
543 | able. | |
544 | ||
545 | 3. Because the DFA algorithm scans the subject string just once, and | |
546 | never needs to backtrack, it is possible to pass very long subject | |
547 | strings to the matching function in several pieces, checking for par- | |
548 | tial matching each time. | |
549 | ||
550 | ||
551 | DISADVANTAGES OF THE DFA ALGORITHM | |
552 | ||
553 | The DFA algorithm suffers from a number of disadvantages: | |
554 | ||
555 | 1. It is substantially slower than the standard algorithm. This is | |
556 | partly because it has to search for all possible matches, but is also | |
557 | because it is less susceptible to optimization. | |
558 | ||
559 | 2. Capturing parentheses and back references are not supported. | |
560 | ||
561 | 3. The "atomic group" feature of PCRE regular expressions is supported, | |
562 | but does not provide the advantage that it does for the standard algo- | |
563 | rithm. | |
564 | ||
565 | Last updated: 28 February 2005 | |
566 | Copyright (c) 1997-2005 University of Cambridge. | |
567 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | |
568 | ||
PCRE(3) PCRE(3) | ||
569 | ||
570 | PCREAPI(3) PCREAPI(3) | |
571 | ||
572 | ||
573 | NAME | NAME |
574 | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions |
575 | ||
576 | ||
577 | PCRE NATIVE API | PCRE NATIVE API |
578 | ||
579 | #include <pcre.h> | #include <pcre.h> |
# | Line 375 PCRE NATIVE API | Line 582 PCRE NATIVE API |
582 | const char **errptr, int *erroffset, | const char **errptr, int *erroffset, |
583 | const unsigned char *tableptr); | const unsigned char *tableptr); |
584 | ||
585 | pcre *pcre_compile2(const char *pattern, int options, | |
586 | int *errorcodeptr, | |
587 | const char **errptr, int *erroffset, | |
588 | const unsigned char *tableptr); | |
589 | ||
590 | pcre_extra *pcre_study(const pcre *code, int options, | pcre_extra *pcre_study(const pcre *code, int options, |
591 | const char **errptr); | const char **errptr); |
592 | ||
# | Line 382 PCRE NATIVE API | Line 594 PCRE NATIVE API |
594 | const char *subject, int length, int startoffset, | const char *subject, int length, int startoffset, |
595 | int options, int *ovector, int ovecsize); | int options, int *ovector, int ovecsize); |
596 | ||
597 | int pcre_dfa_exec(const pcre *code, const pcre_extra *extra, | |
598 | const char *subject, int length, int startoffset, | |
599 | int options, int *ovector, int ovecsize, | |
600 | int *workspace, int wscount); | |
601 | ||
602 | int pcre_copy_named_substring(const pcre *code, | int pcre_copy_named_substring(const pcre *code, |
603 | const char *subject, int *ovector, | const char *subject, int *ovector, |
604 | int stringcount, const char *stringname, | int stringcount, const char *stringname, |
# | Line 417 PCRE NATIVE API | Line 634 PCRE NATIVE API |
634 | ||
635 | int pcre_info(const pcre *code, int *optptr, int *firstcharptr); | int pcre_info(const pcre *code, int *optptr, int *firstcharptr); |
636 | ||
637 | int pcre_refcount(pcre *code, int adjust); | |
638 | ||
639 | int pcre_config(int what, void *where); | int pcre_config(int what, void *where); |
640 | ||
641 | char *pcre_version(void); | char *pcre_version(void); |
# | Line 436 PCRE API OVERVIEW | Line 655 PCRE API OVERVIEW |
655 | ||
656 | PCRE has its own native API, which is described in this document. There | PCRE has its own native API, which is described in this document. There |
657 | is also a set of wrapper functions that correspond to the POSIX regular | is also a set of wrapper functions that correspond to the POSIX regular |
658 | expression API. These are described in the pcreposix documentation. | expression API. These are described in the pcreposix documentation. |
659 | Both of these APIs define a set of C function calls. A C++ wrapper is | |
660 | distributed with PCRE. It is documented in the pcrecpp page. | |
661 | ||
662 | The native API function prototypes are defined in the header file | The native API C function prototypes are defined in the header file |
663 | pcre.h, and on Unix systems the library itself is called libpcre. It | pcre.h, and on Unix systems the library itself is called libpcre. It |
664 | can normally be accessed by adding -lpcre to the command for linking an | can normally be accessed by adding -lpcre to the command for linking an |
665 | application that uses PCRE. The header file defines the macros | application that uses PCRE. The header file defines the macros |
666 | PCRE_MAJOR and PCRE_MINOR to contain the major and minor release num- | PCRE_MAJOR and PCRE_MINOR to contain the major and minor release num- |
667 | bers for the library. Applications can use these to include support | bers for the library. Applications can use these to include support |
668 | for different releases of PCRE. | for different releases of PCRE. |
669 | ||
670 | The functions pcre_compile(), pcre_study(), and pcre_exec() are used | The functions pcre_compile(), pcre_compile2(), pcre_study(), and |
671 | for compiling and matching regular expressions. A sample program that | pcre_exec() are used for compiling and matching regular expressions in |
672 | demonstrates the simplest way of using them is provided in the file | a Perl-compatible manner. A sample program that demonstrates the sim- |
673 | called pcredemo.c in the source distribution. The pcresample documenta- | plest way of using them is provided in the file called pcredemo.c in |
674 | tion describes how to run it. | the source distribution. The pcresample documentation describes how to |
675 | run it. | |
676 | In addition to the main compiling and matching functions, there are | |
677 | convenience functions for extracting captured substrings from a matched | A second matching function, pcre_dfa_exec(), which is not Perl-compati- |
678 | subject string. They are: | ble, is also provided. This uses a different algorithm for the match- |
679 | ing. This allows it to find all possible matches (at a given point in | |
680 | the subject), not just one. However, this algorithm does not return | |
681 | captured substrings. A description of the two matching algorithms and | |
682 | their advantages and disadvantages is given in the pcrematching docu- | |
683 | mentation. | |
684 | ||
685 | In addition to the main compiling and matching functions, there are | |
686 | convenience functions for extracting captured substrings from a subject | |
687 | string that is matched by pcre_exec(). They are: | |
688 | ||
689 | pcre_copy_substring() | pcre_copy_substring() |
690 | pcre_copy_named_substring() | pcre_copy_named_substring() |
# | Line 466 PCRE API OVERVIEW | Line 696 PCRE API OVERVIEW |
696 | pcre_free_substring() and pcre_free_substring_list() are also provided, | pcre_free_substring() and pcre_free_substring_list() are also provided, |
697 | to free the memory used for extracted strings. | to free the memory used for extracted strings. |
698 | ||
699 | The function pcre_maketables() is used to build a set of character | The function pcre_maketables() is used to build a set of character |
700 | tables in the current locale for passing to pcre_compile() or | tables in the current locale for passing to pcre_compile(), |
701 | pcre_exec(). This is an optional facility that is provided for spe- | pcre_exec(), or pcre_dfa_exec(). This is an optional facility that is |
702 | cialist use. Most commonly, no special tables are passed, in which case | provided for specialist use. Most commonly, no special tables are |
703 | internal tables that are generated when PCRE is built are used. | passed, in which case internal tables that are generated when PCRE is |
704 | built are used. | |
705 | ||
706 | The function pcre_fullinfo() is used to find out information about a | The function pcre_fullinfo() is used to find out information about a |
707 | compiled pattern; pcre_info() is an obsolete version that returns only | compiled pattern; pcre_info() is an obsolete version that returns only |
# | Line 478 PCRE API OVERVIEW | Line 709 PCRE API OVERVIEW |
709 | patibility. The function pcre_version() returns a pointer to a string | patibility. The function pcre_version() returns a pointer to a string |
710 | containing the version of PCRE and its date of release. | containing the version of PCRE and its date of release. |
711 | ||
712 | The function pcre_refcount() maintains a reference count in a data | |
713 | block containing a compiled pattern. This is provided for the benefit | |
714 | of object-oriented applications. | |
715 | ||
716 | The global variables pcre_malloc and pcre_free initially contain the | The global variables pcre_malloc and pcre_free initially contain the |
717 | entry points of the standard malloc() and free() functions, respec- | entry points of the standard malloc() and free() functions, respec- |
718 | tively. PCRE calls the memory management functions via these variables, | tively. PCRE calls the memory management functions via these variables, |
# | Line 487 PCRE API OVERVIEW | Line 722 PCRE API OVERVIEW |
722 | The global variables pcre_stack_malloc and pcre_stack_free are also | The global variables pcre_stack_malloc and pcre_stack_free are also |
723 | indirections to memory management functions. These special functions | indirections to memory management functions. These special functions |
724 | are used only when PCRE is compiled to use the heap for remembering | are used only when PCRE is compiled to use the heap for remembering |
725 | data, instead of recursive function calls. This is a non-standard way | data, instead of recursive function calls, when running the pcre_exec() |
726 | of building PCRE, for use in environments that have limited stacks. | function. This is a non-standard way of building PCRE, for use in envi- |
727 | Because of the greater use of memory management, it runs more slowly. | ronments that have limited stacks. Because of the greater use of memory |
728 | Separate functions are provided so that special-purpose external code | management, it runs more slowly. Separate functions are provided so |
729 | can be used for this case. When used, these functions are always called | that special-purpose external code can be used for this case. When |
730 | in a stack-like manner (last obtained, first freed), and always for | used, these functions are always called in a stack-like manner (last |
731 | memory blocks of the same size. | obtained, first freed), and always for memory blocks of the same size. |
732 | ||
733 | The global variable pcre_callout initially contains NULL. It can be set | The global variable pcre_callout initially contains NULL. It can be set |
734 | by the caller to a "callout" function, which PCRE will then call at | by the caller to a "callout" function, which PCRE will then call at |
735 | specified points during a matching operation. Details are given in the | specified points during a matching operation. Details are given in the |
736 | pcrecallout documentation. | pcrecallout documentation. |
737 | ||
738 | ||
739 | MULTITHREADING | MULTITHREADING |
740 | ||
741 | The PCRE functions can be used in multi-threading applications, with | The PCRE functions can be used in multi-threading applications, with |
742 | the proviso that the memory management functions pointed to by | the proviso that the memory management functions pointed to by |
743 | pcre_malloc, pcre_free, pcre_stack_malloc, and pcre_stack_free, and the | pcre_malloc, pcre_free, pcre_stack_malloc, and pcre_stack_free, and the |
744 | callout function pointed to by pcre_callout, are shared by all threads. | callout function pointed to by pcre_callout, are shared by all threads. |
745 | ||
746 | The compiled form of a regular expression is not altered during match- | The compiled form of a regular expression is not altered during match- |
747 | ing, so the same compiled pattern can safely be used by several threads | ing, so the same compiled pattern can safely be used by several threads |
748 | at once. | at once. |
749 | ||
# | Line 516 MULTITHREADING | Line 751 MULTITHREADING |
751 | SAVING PRECOMPILED PATTERNS FOR LATER USE | SAVING PRECOMPILED PATTERNS FOR LATER USE |
752 | ||
753 | The compiled form of a regular expression can be saved and re-used at a | The compiled form of a regular expression can be saved and re-used at a |
754 | later time, possibly by a different program, and even on a host other | later time, possibly by a different program, and even on a host other |
755 | than the one on which it was compiled. Details are given in the | than the one on which it was compiled. Details are given in the |
756 | pcreprecompile documentation. | pcreprecompile documentation. |
757 | ||
758 | ||
# | Line 525 CHECKING BUILD-TIME OPTIONS | Line 760 CHECKING BUILD-TIME OPTIONS |
760 | ||
761 | int pcre_config(int what, void *where); | int pcre_config(int what, void *where); |
762 | ||
763 | The function pcre_config() makes it possible for a PCRE client to dis- | The function pcre_config() makes it possible for a PCRE client to dis- |
764 | cover which optional features have been compiled into the PCRE library. | cover which optional features have been compiled into the PCRE library. |
765 | The pcrebuild documentation has more details about these optional fea- | The pcrebuild documentation has more details about these optional fea- |
766 | tures. | tures. |
767 | ||
768 | The first argument for pcre_config() is an integer, specifying which | The first argument for pcre_config() is an integer, specifying which |
769 | information is required; the second argument is a pointer to a variable | information is required; the second argument is a pointer to a variable |
770 | into which the information is placed. The following information is | into which the information is placed. The following information is |
771 | available: | available: |
772 | ||
773 | PCRE_CONFIG_UTF8 | PCRE_CONFIG_UTF8 |
774 | ||
775 | The output is an integer that is set to one if UTF-8 support is avail- | The output is an integer that is set to one if UTF-8 support is avail- |
776 | able; otherwise it is set to zero. | able; otherwise it is set to zero. |
777 | ||
778 | PCRE_CONFIG_UNICODE_PROPERTIES | PCRE_CONFIG_UNICODE_PROPERTIES |
779 | ||
780 | The output is an integer that is set to one if support for Unicode | The output is an integer that is set to one if support for Unicode |
781 | character properties is available; otherwise it is set to zero. | character properties is available; otherwise it is set to zero. |
782 | ||
783 | PCRE_CONFIG_NEWLINE | PCRE_CONFIG_NEWLINE |
784 | ||
785 | The output is an integer that is set to the value of the code that is | The output is an integer that is set to the value of the code that is |
786 | used for the newline character. It is either linefeed (10) or carriage | used for the newline character. It is either linefeed (10) or carriage |
787 | return (13), and should normally be the standard character for your | return (13), and should normally be the standard character for your |
788 | operating system. | operating system. |
789 | ||
790 | PCRE_CONFIG_LINK_SIZE | PCRE_CONFIG_LINK_SIZE |
791 | ||
792 | The output is an integer that contains the number of bytes used for | The output is an integer that contains the number of bytes used for |
793 | internal linkage in compiled regular expressions. The value is 2, 3, or | internal linkage in compiled regular expressions. The value is 2, 3, or |
794 | 4. Larger values allow larger regular expressions to be compiled, at | 4. Larger values allow larger regular expressions to be compiled, at |
795 | the expense of slower matching. The default value of 2 is sufficient | the expense of slower matching. The default value of 2 is sufficient |
796 | for all but the most massive patterns, since it allows the compiled | for all but the most massive patterns, since it allows the compiled |
797 | pattern to be up to 64K in size. | pattern to be up to 64K in size. |
798 | ||
799 | PCRE_CONFIG_POSIX_MALLOC_THRESHOLD | PCRE_CONFIG_POSIX_MALLOC_THRESHOLD |
800 | ||
801 | The output is an integer that contains the threshold above which the | The output is an integer that contains the threshold above which the |
802 | POSIX interface uses malloc() for output vectors. Further details are | POSIX interface uses malloc() for output vectors. Further details are |
803 | given in the pcreposix documentation. | given in the pcreposix documentation. |
804 | ||
805 | PCRE_CONFIG_MATCH_LIMIT | PCRE_CONFIG_MATCH_LIMIT |
806 | ||
807 | The output is an integer that gives the default limit for the number of | The output is an integer that gives the default limit for the number of |
808 | internal matching function calls in a pcre_exec() execution. Further | internal matching function calls in a pcre_exec() execution. Further |
809 | details are given with pcre_exec() below. | details are given with pcre_exec() below. |
810 | ||
811 | PCRE_CONFIG_STACKRECURSE | PCRE_CONFIG_STACKRECURSE |
812 | ||
813 | The output is an integer that is set to one if internal recursion is | The output is an integer that is set to one if internal recursion when |
814 | implemented by recursive function calls that use the stack to remember | running pcre_exec() is implemented by recursive function calls that use |
815 | their state. This is the usual way that PCRE is compiled. The output is | the stack to remember their state. This is the usual way that PCRE is |
816 | zero if PCRE was compiled to use blocks of data on the heap instead of | compiled. The output is zero if PCRE was compiled to use blocks of data |
817 | recursive function calls. In this case, pcre_stack_malloc and | on the heap instead of recursive function calls. In this case, |
818 | pcre_stack_free are called to manage memory blocks on the heap, thus | pcre_stack_malloc and pcre_stack_free are called to manage memory |
819 | avoiding the use of the stack. | blocks on the heap, thus avoiding the use of the stack. |
820 | ||
821 | ||
822 | COMPILING A PATTERN | COMPILING A PATTERN |
# | Line 590 COMPILING A PATTERN | Line 825 COMPILING A PATTERN |
825 | const char **errptr, int *erroffset, | const char **errptr, int *erroffset, |
826 | const unsigned char *tableptr); | const unsigned char *tableptr); |
827 | ||
828 | The function pcre_compile() is called to compile a pattern into an | pcre *pcre_compile2(const char *pattern, int options, |
829 | internal form. The pattern is a C string terminated by a binary zero, | int *errorcodeptr, |
830 | and is passed in the pattern argument. A pointer to a single block of | const char **errptr, int *erroffset, |
831 | memory that is obtained via pcre_malloc is returned. This contains the | const unsigned char *tableptr); |
832 | compiled code and related data. The pcre type is defined for the | |
833 | returned block; this is a typedef for a structure whose contents are | Either of the functions pcre_compile() or pcre_compile2() can be called |
834 | not externally defined. It is up to the caller to free the memory when | to compile a pattern into an internal form. The only difference between |
835 | it is no longer required. | the two interfaces is that pcre_compile2() has an additional argument, |
836 | errorcodeptr, via which a numerical error code can be returned. | |
837 | ||
838 | The pattern is a C string terminated by a binary zero, and is passed in | |
839 | the pattern argument. A pointer to a single block of memory that is | |
840 | obtained via pcre_malloc is returned. This contains the compiled code | |
841 | and related data. The pcre type is defined for the returned block; this | |
842 | is a typedef for a structure whose contents are not externally defined. | |
843 | It is up to the caller to free the memory when it is no longer | |
844 | required. | |
845 | ||
846 | Although the compiled code of a PCRE regex is relocatable, that is, it | Although the compiled code of a PCRE regex is relocatable, that is, it |
847 | does not depend on memory location, the complete pcre data block is not | does not depend on memory location, the complete pcre data block is not |
848 | fully relocatable, because it may contain a copy of the tableptr argu- | fully relocatable, because it may contain a copy of the tableptr argu- |
849 | ment, which is an address (see below). | ment, which is an address (see below). |
850 | ||
851 | The options argument contains independent bits that affect the compila- | The options argument contains independent bits that affect the compila- |
852 | tion. It should be zero if no options are required. The available | tion. It should be zero if no options are required. The available |
853 | options are described below. Some of them, in particular, those that | options are described below. Some of them, in particular, those that |
854 | are compatible with Perl, can also be set and unset from within the | are compatible with Perl, can also be set and unset from within the |
855 | pattern (see the detailed description in the pcrepattern documenta- | pattern (see the detailed description in the pcrepattern documenta- |
856 | tion). For these options, the contents of the options argument speci- | tion). For these options, the contents of the options argument speci- |
857 | fies their initial settings at the start of compilation and execution. | fies their initial settings at the start of compilation and execution. |
858 | The PCRE_ANCHORED option can be set at the time of matching as well as | The PCRE_ANCHORED option can be set at the time of matching as well as |
859 | at compile time. | at compile time. |
860 | ||
861 | If errptr is NULL, pcre_compile() returns NULL immediately. Otherwise, | If errptr is NULL, pcre_compile() returns NULL immediately. Otherwise, |
862 | if compilation of a pattern fails, pcre_compile() returns NULL, and | if compilation of a pattern fails, pcre_compile() returns NULL, and |
863 | sets the variable pointed to by errptr to point to a textual error mes- | sets the variable pointed to by errptr to point to a textual error mes- |
864 | sage. The offset from the start of the pattern to the character where | sage. The offset from the start of the pattern to the character where |
865 | the error was discovered is placed in the variable pointed to by | the error was discovered is placed in the variable pointed to by |
866 | erroffset, which must not be NULL. If it is, an immediate error is | erroffset, which must not be NULL. If it is, an immediate error is |
867 | given. | given. |
868 | ||
869 | If pcre_compile2() is used instead of pcre_compile(), and the error- | |
870 | codeptr argument is not NULL, a non-zero error code number is returned | |
871 | via this argument in the event of an error. This is in addition to the | |
872 | textual error message. Error codes and messages are listed below. | |
873 | ||
874 | If the final argument, tableptr, is NULL, PCRE uses a default set of | If the final argument, tableptr, is NULL, PCRE uses a default set of |
875 | character tables that are built when PCRE is compiled, using the | character tables that are built when PCRE is compiled, using the |
876 | default C locale. Otherwise, tableptr must be an address that is the | default C locale. Otherwise, tableptr must be an address that is the |
# | Line 664 COMPILING A PATTERN | Line 913 COMPILING A PATTERN |
913 | ||
914 | If this bit is set, letters in the pattern match both upper and lower | If this bit is set, letters in the pattern match both upper and lower |
915 | case letters. It is equivalent to Perl's /i option, and it can be | case letters. It is equivalent to Perl's /i option, and it can be |
916 | changed within a pattern by a (?i) option setting. When running in | changed within a pattern by a (?i) option setting. In UTF-8 mode, PCRE |
917 | UTF-8 mode, case support for high-valued characters is available only | always understands the concept of case for characters whose values are |
918 | when PCRE is built with Unicode character property support. | less than 128, so caseless matching is always possible. For characters |
919 | with higher values, the concept of case is supported if PCRE is com- | |
920 | piled with Unicode property support, but not otherwise. If you want to | |
921 | use caseless matching for characters 128 and above, you must ensure | |
922 | that PCRE is compiled with Unicode property support as well as with | |
923 | UTF-8 support. | |
924 | ||
925 | PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY | PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY |
926 | ||
927 | If this bit is set, a dollar metacharacter in the pattern matches only | If this bit is set, a dollar metacharacter in the pattern matches only |
928 | at the end of the subject string. Without this option, a dollar also | at the end of the subject string. Without this option, a dollar also |
929 | matches immediately before the final character if it is a newline (but | matches immediately before the final character if it is a newline (but |
930 | not before any other newlines). The PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY option is | not before any other newlines). The PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY option is |
931 | ignored if PCRE_MULTILINE is set. There is no equivalent to this option | ignored if PCRE_MULTILINE is set. There is no equivalent to this option |
932 | in Perl, and no way to set it within a pattern. | in Perl, and no way to set it within a pattern. |
933 | ||
934 | PCRE_DOTALL | PCRE_DOTALL |
935 | ||
936 | If this bit is set, a dot metacharater in the pattern matches all char- | If this bit is set, a dot metacharater in the pattern matches all char- |
937 | acters, including newlines. Without it, newlines are excluded. This | acters, including newlines. Without it, newlines are excluded. This |
938 | option is equivalent to Perl's /s option, and it can be changed within | option is equivalent to Perl's /s option, and it can be changed within |
939 | a pattern by a (?s) option setting. A negative class such as [^a] | a pattern by a (?s) option setting. A negative class such as [^a] |
940 | always matches a newline character, independent of the setting of this | always matches a newline character, independent of the setting of this |
941 | option. | option. |
942 | ||
943 | PCRE_EXTENDED | PCRE_EXTENDED |
944 | ||
945 | If this bit is set, whitespace data characters in the pattern are | If this bit is set, whitespace data characters in the pattern are |
946 | totally ignored except when escaped or inside a character class. | totally ignored except when escaped or inside a character class. White- |
947 | Whitespace does not include the VT character (code 11). In addition, | space does not include the VT character (code 11). In addition, charac- |
948 | characters between an unescaped # outside a character class and the | ters between an unescaped # outside a character class and the next new- |
949 | next newline character, inclusive, are also ignored. This is equivalent | line character, inclusive, are also ignored. This is equivalent to |
950 | to Perl's /x option, and it can be changed within a pattern by a (?x) | Perl's /x option, and it can be changed within a pattern by a (?x) |
951 | option setting. | option setting. |
952 | ||
953 | This option makes it possible to include comments inside complicated | This option makes it possible to include comments inside complicated |
954 | patterns. Note, however, that this applies only to data characters. | patterns. Note, however, that this applies only to data characters. |
955 | Whitespace characters may never appear within special character | Whitespace characters may never appear within special character |
956 | sequences in a pattern, for example within the sequence (?( which | sequences in a pattern, for example within the sequence (?( which |
957 | introduces a conditional subpattern. | introduces a conditional subpattern. |
958 | ||
959 | PCRE_EXTRA | PCRE_EXTRA |
960 | ||
961 | This option was invented in order to turn on additional functionality | This option was invented in order to turn on additional functionality |
962 | of PCRE that is incompatible with Perl, but it is currently of very | of PCRE that is incompatible with Perl, but it is currently of very |
963 | little use. When set, any backslash in a pattern that is followed by a | little use. When set, any backslash in a pattern that is followed by a |
964 | letter that has no special meaning causes an error, thus reserving | letter that has no special meaning causes an error, thus reserving |
965 | these combinations for future expansion. By default, as in Perl, a | these combinations for future expansion. By default, as in Perl, a |
966 | backslash followed by a letter with no special meaning is treated as a | backslash followed by a letter with no special meaning is treated as a |
967 | literal. There are at present no other features controlled by this | literal. There are at present no other features controlled by this |
968 | option. It can also be set by a (?X) option setting within a pattern. | option. It can also be set by a (?X) option setting within a pattern. |
969 | ||
970 | PCRE_FIRSTLINE | |
971 | ||
972 | If this option is set, an unanchored pattern is required to match | |
973 | before or at the first newline character in the subject string, though | |
974 | the matched text may continue over the newline. | |
975 | ||
976 | PCRE_MULTILINE | PCRE_MULTILINE |
977 | ||
978 | By default, PCRE treats the subject string as consisting of a single | By default, PCRE treats the subject string as consisting of a single |
979 | line of characters (even if it actually contains newlines). The "start | line of characters (even if it actually contains newlines). The "start |
980 | of line" metacharacter (^) matches only at the start of the string, | of line" metacharacter (^) matches only at the start of the string, |
981 | while the "end of line" metacharacter ($) matches only at the end of | while the "end of line" metacharacter ($) matches only at the end of |
982 | the string, or before a terminating newline (unless PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY | the string, or before a terminating newline (unless PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY |
983 | is set). This is the same as Perl. | is set). This is the same as Perl. |
984 | ||
985 | When PCRE_MULTILINE it is set, the "start of line" and "end of line" | When PCRE_MULTILINE it is set, the "start of line" and "end of line" |
986 | constructs match immediately following or immediately before any new- | constructs match immediately following or immediately before any new- |
987 | line in the subject string, respectively, as well as at the very start | line in the subject string, respectively, as well as at the very start |
988 | and end. This is equivalent to Perl's /m option, and it can be changed | and end. This is equivalent to Perl's /m option, and it can be changed |
989 | within a pattern by a (?m) option setting. If there are no "\n" charac- | within a pattern by a (?m) option setting. If there are no "\n" charac- |
990 | ters in a subject string, or no occurrences of ^ or $ in a pattern, | ters in a subject string, or no occurrences of ^ or $ in a pattern, |
991 | setting PCRE_MULTILINE has no effect. | setting PCRE_MULTILINE has no effect. |
992 | ||
993 | PCRE_NO_AUTO_CAPTURE | PCRE_NO_AUTO_CAPTURE |
994 | ||
995 | If this option is set, it disables the use of numbered capturing paren- | If this option is set, it disables the use of numbered capturing paren- |
996 | theses in the pattern. Any opening parenthesis that is not followed by | theses in the pattern. Any opening parenthesis that is not followed by |
997 | ? behaves as if it were followed by ?: but named parentheses can still | ? behaves as if it were followed by ?: but named parentheses can still |
998 | be used for capturing (and they acquire numbers in the usual way). | be used for capturing (and they acquire numbers in the usual way). |
999 | There is no equivalent of this option in Perl. | There is no equivalent of this option in Perl. |
1000 | ||
1001 | PCRE_UNGREEDY | PCRE_UNGREEDY |
1002 | ||
1003 | This option inverts the "greediness" of the quantifiers so that they | This option inverts the "greediness" of the quantifiers so that they |
1004 | are not greedy by default, but become greedy if followed by "?". It is | are not greedy by default, but become greedy if followed by "?". It is |
1005 | not compatible with Perl. It can also be set by a (?U) option setting | not compatible with Perl. It can also be set by a (?U) option setting |
1006 | within the pattern. | within the pattern. |
1007 | ||
1008 | PCRE_UTF8 | PCRE_UTF8 |
1009 | ||
1010 | This option causes PCRE to regard both the pattern and the subject as | This option causes PCRE to regard both the pattern and the subject as |
1011 | strings of UTF-8 characters instead of single-byte character strings. | strings of UTF-8 characters instead of single-byte character strings. |
1012 | However, it is available only when PCRE is built to include UTF-8 sup- | However, it is available only when PCRE is built to include UTF-8 sup- |
1013 | port. If not, the use of this option provokes an error. Details of how | port. If not, the use of this option provokes an error. Details of how |
1014 | this option changes the behaviour of PCRE are given in the section on | this option changes the behaviour of PCRE are given in the section on |
1015 | UTF-8 support in the main pcre page. | UTF-8 support in the main pcre page. |
1016 | ||
1017 | PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK | PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK |
1018 | ||
1019 | When PCRE_UTF8 is set, the validity of the pattern as a UTF-8 string is | When PCRE_UTF8 is set, the validity of the pattern as a UTF-8 string is |
1020 | automatically checked. If an invalid UTF-8 sequence of bytes is found, | automatically checked. If an invalid UTF-8 sequence of bytes is found, |
1021 | pcre_compile() returns an error. If you already know that your pattern | pcre_compile() returns an error. If you already know that your pattern |
1022 | is valid, and you want to skip this check for performance reasons, you | is valid, and you want to skip this check for performance reasons, you |
1023 | can set the PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK option. When it is set, the effect of | can set the PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK option. When it is set, the effect of |
1024 | passing an invalid UTF-8 string as a pattern is undefined. It may cause | passing an invalid UTF-8 string as a pattern is undefined. It may cause |
1025 | your program to crash. Note that this option can also be passed to | your program to crash. Note that this option can also be passed to |
1026 | pcre_exec(), to suppress the UTF-8 validity checking of subject | pcre_exec() and pcre_dfa_exec(), to suppress the UTF-8 validity check- |
1027 | strings. | ing of subject strings. |
1028 | ||
1029 | ||
1030 | COMPILATION ERROR CODES | |
1031 | ||
1032 | The following table lists the error codes than may be returned by | |
1033 | pcre_compile2(), along with the error messages that may be returned by | |
1034 | both compiling functions. | |
1035 | ||
1036 | 0 no error | |
1037 | 1 \ at end of pattern | |
1038 | 2 \c at end of pattern | |
1039 | 3 unrecognized character follows \ | |
1040 | 4 numbers out of order in {} quantifier | |
1041 | 5 number too big in {} quantifier | |
1042 | 6 missing terminating ] for character class | |
1043 | 7 invalid escape sequence in character class | |
1044 | 8 range out of order in character class | |
1045 | 9 nothing to repeat | |
1046 | 10 operand of unlimited repeat could match the empty string | |
1047 | 11 internal error: unexpected repeat | |
1048 | 12 unrecognized character after (? | |
1049 | 13 POSIX named classes are supported only within a class | |
1050 | 14 missing ) | |
1051 | 15 reference to non-existent subpattern | |
1052 | 16 erroffset passed as NULL | |
1053 | 17 unknown option bit(s) set | |
1054 | 18 missing ) after comment | |
1055 | 19 parentheses nested too deeply | |
1056 | 20 regular expression too large | |
1057 | 21 failed to get memory | |
1058 | 22 unmatched parentheses | |
1059 | 23 internal error: code overflow | |
1060 | 24 unrecognized character after (?< | |
1061 | 25 lookbehind assertion is not fixed length | |
1062 | 26 malformed number after (?( | |
1063 | 27 conditional group contains more than two branches | |
1064 | 28 assertion expected after (?( | |
1065 | 29 (?R or (?digits must be followed by ) | |
1066 | 30 unknown POSIX class name | |
1067 | 31 POSIX collating elements are not supported | |
1068 | 32 this version of PCRE is not compiled with PCRE_UTF8 support | |
1069 | 33 spare error | |
1070 | 34 character value in \x{...} sequence is too large | |
1071 | 35 invalid condition (?(0) | |
1072 | 36 \C not allowed in lookbehind assertion | |
1073 | 37 PCRE does not support \L, \l, \N, \U, or \u | |
1074 | 38 number after (?C is > 255 | |
1075 | 39 closing ) for (?C expected | |
1076 | 40 recursive call could loop indefinitely | |
1077 | 41 unrecognized character after (?P | |
1078 | 42 syntax error after (?P | |
1079 | 43 two named groups have the same name | |
1080 | 44 invalid UTF-8 string | |
1081 | 45 support for \P, \p, and \X has not been compiled | |
1082 | 46 malformed \P or \p sequence | |
1083 | 47 unknown property name after \P or \p | |
1084 | ||
1085 | ||
1086 | STUDYING A PATTERN | STUDYING A PATTERN |
1087 | ||
1088 | pcre_extra *pcre_study(const pcre *code, int options, | pcre_extra *pcre_study(const pcre *code, int options |
1089 | const char **errptr); | const char **errptr); |
1090 | ||
1091 | If a compiled pattern is going to be used several times, it is worth | If a compiled pattern is going to be used several times, it is worth |
1092 | spending more time analyzing it in order to speed up the time taken for | spending more time analyzing it in order to speed up the time taken for |
1093 | matching. The function pcre_study() takes a pointer to a compiled pat- | matching. The function pcre_study() takes a pointer to a compiled pat- |
1094 | tern as its first argument. If studying the pattern produces additional | tern as its first argument. If studying the pattern produces additional |
1095 | information that will help speed up matching, pcre_study() returns a | information that will help speed up matching, pcre_study() returns a |
1096 | pointer to a pcre_extra block, in which the study_data field points to | pointer to a pcre_extra block, in which the study_data field points to |
1097 | the results of the study. | the results of the study. |
1098 | ||
1099 | The returned value from pcre_study() can be passed directly to | The returned value from pcre_study() can be passed directly to |
1100 | pcre_exec(). However, a pcre_extra block also contains other fields | pcre_exec(). However, a pcre_extra block also contains other fields |
1101 | that can be set by the caller before the block is passed; these are | that can be set by the caller before the block is passed; these are |
1102 | described below in the section on matching a pattern. | described below in the section on matching a pattern. |
1103 | ||
1104 | If studying the pattern does not produce any additional information, | If studying the pattern does not produce any additional information |
1105 | pcre_study() returns NULL. In that circumstance, if the calling program | pcre_study() returns NULL. In that circumstance, if the calling program |
1106 | wants to pass any of the other fields to pcre_exec(), it must set up | wants to pass any of the other fields to pcre_exec(), it must set up |
1107 | its own pcre_extra block. | its own pcre_extra block. |
1108 | ||
1109 | The second argument of pcre_study() contains option bits. At present, | The second argument of pcre_study() contains option bits. At present, |
1110 | no options are defined, and this argument should always be zero. | no options are defined, and this argument should always be zero. |
1111 | ||
1112 | The third argument for pcre_study() is a pointer for an error message. | The third argument for pcre_study() is a pointer for an error message. |
1113 | If studying succeeds (even if no data is returned), the variable it | If studying succeeds (even if no data is returned), the variable it |
1114 | points to is set to NULL. Otherwise it points to a textual error mes- | points to is set to NULL. Otherwise it points to a textual error mes- |
1115 | sage. You should therefore test the error pointer for NULL after call- | sage. You should therefore test the error pointer for NULL after call- |
1116 | ing pcre_study(), to be sure that it has run successfully. | ing pcre_study(), to be sure that it has run successfully. |
1117 | ||
1118 | This is a typical call to pcre_study(): | This is a typical call to pcre_study(): |
# | Line 808 STUDYING A PATTERN | Line 1124 STUDYING A PATTERN |
1124 | &error); /* set to NULL or points to a message */ | &error); /* set to NULL or points to a message */ |
1125 | ||
1126 | At present, studying a pattern is useful only for non-anchored patterns | At present, studying a pattern is useful only for non-anchored patterns |
1127 | that do not have a single fixed starting character. A bitmap of possi- | that do not have a single fixed starting character. A bitmap of possi- |
1128 | ble starting bytes is created. | ble starting bytes is created. |
1129 | ||
1130 | ||
1131 | LOCALE SUPPORT | LOCALE SUPPORT |
1132 | ||
1133 | PCRE handles caseless matching, and determines whether characters are | PCRE handles caseless matching, and determines whether characters are |
1134 | letters, digits, or whatever, by reference to a set of tables, indexed | letters digits, or whatever, by reference to a set of tables, indexed |
1135 | by character value. (When running in UTF-8 mode, this applies only to | by character value. When running in UTF-8 mode, this applies only to |
1136 | characters with codes less than 128. Higher-valued codes never match | characters with codes less than 128. Higher-valued codes never match |
1137 | escapes such as \w or \d, but can be tested with \p if PCRE is built | escapes such as \w or \d, but can be tested with \p if PCRE is built |
1138 | with Unicode character property support.) | with Unicode character property support. |
1139 | ||
1140 | An internal set of tables is created in the default C locale when PCRE | An internal set of tables is created in the default C locale when PCRE |
1141 | is built. This is used when the final argument of pcre_compile() is | is built. This is used when the final argument of pcre_compile() is |
1142 | NULL, and is sufficient for many applications. An alternative set of | NULL, and is sufficient for many applications. An alternative set of |
1143 | tables can, however, be supplied. These may be created in a different | tables can, however, be supplied. These may be created in a different |
1144 | locale from the default. As more and more applications change to using | locale from the default. As more and more applications change to using |
1145 | Unicode, the need for this locale support is expected to die away. | Unicode, the need for this locale support is expected to die away. |
1146 | ||
1147 | External tables are built by calling the pcre_maketables() function, | External tables are built by calling the pcre_maketables() function, |
1148 | which has no arguments, in the relevant locale. The result can then be | which has no arguments, in the relevant locale. The result can then be |
1149 | passed to pcre_compile() or pcre_exec() as often as necessary. For | passed to pcre_compile() or pcre_exec() as often as necessary. For |
1150 | example, to build and use tables that are appropriate for the French | example, to build and use tables that are appropriate for the French |
1151 | locale (where accented characters with values greater than 128 are | locale (where accented characters with values greater than 128 are |
1152 | treated as letters), the following code could be used: | treated as letters), the following code could be used: |
1153 | ||
1154 | setlocale(LC_CTYPE, "fr_FR"); | setlocale(LC_CTYPE, "fr_FR"); |
1155 | tables = pcre_maketables(); | tables = pcre_maketables(); |
1156 | re = pcre_compile(..., tables); | re = pcre_compile(..., tables); |
1157 | ||
1158 | When pcre_maketables() runs, the tables are built in memory that is | When pcre_maketables() runs, the tables are built in memory that is |
1159 | obtained via pcre_malloc. It is the caller's responsibility to ensure | obtained via pcre_malloc. It is the caller's responsibility to ensure |
1160 | that the memory containing the tables remains available for as long as | that the memory containing the tables remains available for as long as |
1161 | it is needed. | it is needed. |
1162 | ||
1163 | The pointer that is passed to pcre_compile() is saved with the compiled | The pointer that is passed to pcre_compile() is saved with the compiled |
1164 | pattern, and the same tables are used via this pointer by pcre_study() | pattern, and the same tables are used via this pointer by pcre_study() |
1165 | and normally also by pcre_exec(). Thus, by default, for any single pat- | and normally also by pcre_exec(). Thus, by default, for any single pat- |
1166 | tern, compilation, studying and matching all happen in the same locale, | tern, compilation, studying and matching all happen in the same locale, |
1167 | but different patterns can be compiled in different locales. | but different patterns can be compiled in different locales. |
1168 | ||
1169 | It is possible to pass a table pointer or NULL (indicating the use of | It is possible to pass a table pointer or NULL (indicating the use of |
1170 | the internal tables) to pcre_exec(). Although not intended for this | the internal tables) to pcre_exec(). Although not intended for this |
1171 | purpose, this facility could be used to match a pattern in a different | purpose, this facility could be used to match a pattern in a different |
1172 | locale from the one in which it was compiled. Passing table pointers at | locale from the one in which it was compiled. Passing table pointers at |
1173 | run time is discussed below in the section on matching a pattern. | run time is discussed below in the section on matching a pattern. |
1174 | ||
# | Line 862 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN | Line 1178 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN |
1178 | int pcre_fullinfo(const pcre *code, const pcre_extra *extra, | int pcre_fullinfo(const pcre *code, const pcre_extra *extra, |
1179 | int what, void *where); | int what, void *where); |
1180 | ||
1181 | The pcre_fullinfo() function returns information about a compiled pat- | The pcre_fullinfo() function returns information about a compiled pat- |
1182 | tern. It replaces the obsolete pcre_info() function, which is neverthe- | tern. It replaces the obsolete pcre_info() function, which is neverthe- |
1183 | less retained for backwards compability (and is documented below). | less retained for backwards compability (and is documented below). |
1184 | ||
1185 | The first argument for pcre_fullinfo() is a pointer to the compiled | The first argument for pcre_fullinfo() is a pointer to the compiled |
1186 | pattern. The second argument is the result of pcre_study(), or NULL if | pattern. The second argument is the result of pcre_study(), or NULL if |
1187 | the pattern was not studied. The third argument specifies which piece | the pattern was not studied. The third argument specifies which piece |
1188 | of information is required, and the fourth argument is a pointer to a | of information is required, and the fourth argument is a pointer to a |
1189 | variable to receive the data. The yield of the function is zero for | variable to receive the data. The yield of the function is zero for |
1190 | success, or one of the following negative numbers: | success, or one of the following negative numbers: |
1191 | ||
1192 | PCRE_ERROR_NULL the argument code was NULL | PCRE_ERROR_NULL the argument code was NULL |
# | Line 878 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN | Line 1194 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN |
1194 | PCRE_ERROR_BADMAGIC the "magic number" was not found | PCRE_ERROR_BADMAGIC the "magic number" was not found |
1195 | PCRE_ERROR_BADOPTION the value of what was invalid | PCRE_ERROR_BADOPTION the value of what was invalid |
1196 | ||
1197 | The "magic number" is placed at the start of each compiled pattern as | The "magic number" is placed at the start of each compiled pattern as |
1198 | an simple check against passing an arbitrary memory pointer. Here is a | an simple check against passing an arbitrary memory pointer. Here is a |
1199 | typical call of pcre_fullinfo(), to obtain the length of the compiled | typical call of pcre_fullinfo(), to obtain the length of the compiled |
1200 | pattern: | pattern: |
1201 | ||
1202 | int rc; | int rc; |
# | Line 891 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN | Line 1207 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN |
1207 | PCRE_INFO_SIZE, /* what is required */ | PCRE_INFO_SIZE, /* what is required */ |
1208 | &length); /* where to put the data */ | &length); /* where to put the data */ |
1209 | ||
1210 | The possible values for the third argument are defined in pcre.h, and | The possible values for the third argument are defined in pcre.h, and |
1211 | are as follows: | are as follows: |
1212 | ||
1213 | PCRE_INFO_BACKREFMAX | PCRE_INFO_BACKREFMAX |
1214 | ||
1215 | Return the number of the highest back reference in the pattern. The | Return the number of the highest back reference in the pattern. The |
1216 | fourth argument should point to an int variable. Zero is returned if | fourth argument should point to an int variable. Zero is returned if |
1217 | there are no back references. | there are no back references. |
1218 | ||
1219 | PCRE_INFO_CAPTURECOUNT | PCRE_INFO_CAPTURECOUNT |
1220 | ||
1221 | Return the number of capturing subpatterns in the pattern. The fourth | Return the number of capturing subpatterns in the pattern. The fourth |
1222 | argument should point to an int variable. | argument should point to an int variable. |
1223 | ||
1224 | PCRE_INFO_DEFAULTTABLES | PCRE_INFO_DEFAULT_TABLES |
1225 | ||
1226 | Return a pointer to the internal default character tables within PCRE. | Return a pointer to the internal default character tables within PCRE. |
1227 | The fourth argument should point to an unsigned char * variable. This | The fourth argument should point to an unsigned char * variable. This |
1228 | information call is provided for internal use by the pcre_study() func- | information call is provided for internal use by the pcre_study() func- |
1229 | tion. External callers can cause PCRE to use its internal tables by | tion. External callers can cause PCRE to use its internal tables by |
1230 | passing a NULL table pointer. | passing a NULL table pointer. |
1231 | ||
1232 | PCRE_INFO_FIRSTBYTE | PCRE_INFO_FIRSTBYTE |
1233 | ||
1234 | Return information about the first byte of any matched string, for a | Return information about the first byte of any matched string, for a |
1235 | non-anchored pattern. (This option used to be called | non-anchored pattern. (This option used to be called |
1236 | PCRE_INFO_FIRSTCHAR; the old name is still recognized for backwards | PCRE_INFO_FIRSTCHAR; the old name is still recognized for backwards |
1237 | compatibility.) | compatibility.) |
1238 | ||
1239 | If there is a fixed first byte, for example, from a pattern such as | If there is a fixed first byte, for example, from a pattern such as |
1240 | (cat|cow|coyote), it is returned in the integer pointed to by where. | (cat|cow|coyote), it is returned in the integer pointed to by where. |
1241 | Otherwise, if either | Otherwise, if either |
1242 | ||
1243 | (a) the pattern was compiled with the PCRE_MULTILINE option, and every | (a) the pattern was compiled with the PCRE_MULTILINE option, and every |
1244 | branch starts with "^", or | branch starts with "^", or |
1245 | ||
1246 | (b) every branch of the pattern starts with ".*" and PCRE_DOTALL is not | (b) every branch of the pattern starts with ".*" and PCRE_DOTALL is not |
1247 | set (if it were set, the pattern would be anchored), | set (if it were set, the pattern would be anchored), |
1248 | ||
1249 | -1 is returned, indicating that the pattern matches only at the start | -1 is returned, indicating that the pattern matches only at the start |
1250 | of a subject string or after any newline within the string. Otherwise | of a subject string or after any newline within the string. Otherwise |
1251 | -2 is returned. For anchored patterns, -2 is returned. | -2 is returned. For anchored patterns, -2 is returned. |
1252 | ||
1253 | PCRE_INFO_FIRSTTABLE | PCRE_INFO_FIRSTTABLE |
1254 | ||
1255 | If the pattern was studied, and this resulted in the construction of a | If the pattern was studied, and this resulted in the construction of a |
1256 | 256-bit table indicating a fixed set of bytes for the first byte in any | 256-bit table indicating a fixed set of bytes for the first byte in any |
1257 | matching string, a pointer to the table is returned. Otherwise NULL is | matching string, a pointer to the table is returned. Otherwise NULL is |
1258 | returned. The fourth argument should point to an unsigned char * vari- | returned. The fourth argument should point to an unsigned char * vari- |
1259 | able. | able. |
1260 | ||
1261 | PCRE_INFO_LASTLITERAL | PCRE_INFO_LASTLITERAL |
1262 | ||
1263 | Return the value of the rightmost literal byte that must exist in any | Return the value of the rightmost literal byte that must exist in any |
1264 | matched string, other than at its start, if such a byte has been | matched string, other than at its start, if such a byte has been |
1265 | recorded. The fourth argument should point to an int variable. If there | recorded. The fourth argument should point to an int variable. If there |
1266 | is no such byte, -1 is returned. For anchored patterns, a last literal | is no such byte, -1 is returned. For anchored patterns, a last literal |
1267 | byte is recorded only if it follows something of variable length. For | byte is recorded only if it follows something of variable length. For |
1268 | example, for the pattern /^a\d+z\d+/ the returned value is "z", but for | example, for the pattern /^a\d+z\d+/ the returned value is "z", but for |
1269 | /^a\dz\d/ the returned value is -1. | /^a\dz\d/ the returned value is -1. |
1270 | ||
# | Line 956 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN | Line 1272 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN |
1272 | PCRE_INFO_NAMEENTRYSIZE | PCRE_INFO_NAMEENTRYSIZE |
1273 | PCRE_INFO_NAMETABLE | PCRE_INFO_NAMETABLE |
1274 | ||
1275 | PCRE supports the use of named as well as numbered capturing parenthe- | PCRE supports the use of named as well as numbered capturing parenthe- |
1276 | ses. The names are just an additional way of identifying the parenthe- | ses. The names are just an additional way of identifying the parenthe- |
1277 | ses, which still acquire numbers. A convenience function called | ses, which still acquire numbers. A convenience function called |
1278 | pcre_get_named_substring() is provided for extracting an individual | pcre_get_named_substring() is provided for extracting an individual |
1279 | captured substring by name. It is also possible to extract the data | captured substring by name. It is also possible to extract the data |
1280 | directly, by first converting the name to a number in order to access | directly, by first converting the name to a number in order to access |
1281 | the correct pointers in the output vector (described with pcre_exec() | the correct pointers in the output vector (described with pcre_exec() |
1282 | below). To do the conversion, you need to use the name-to-number map, | below). To do the conversion, you need to use the name-to-number map, |
1283 | which is described by these three values. | which is described by these three values. |
1284 | ||
1285 | The map consists of a number of fixed-size entries. PCRE_INFO_NAMECOUNT | The map consists of a number of fixed-size entries. PCRE_INFO_NAMECOUNT |
1286 | gives the number of entries, and PCRE_INFO_NAMEENTRYSIZE gives the size | gives the number of entries, and PCRE_INFO_NAMEENTRYSIZE gives the size |
1287 | of each entry; both of these return an int value. The entry size | of each entry; both of these return an int value. The entry size |
1288 | depends on the length of the longest name. PCRE_INFO_NAMETABLE returns | depends on the length of the longest name. PCRE_INFO_NAMETABLE returns |
1289 | a pointer to the first entry of the table (a pointer to char). The | a pointer to the first entry of the table (a pointer to char). The |
1290 | first two bytes of each entry are the number of the capturing parenthe- | first two bytes of each entry are the number of the capturing parenthe- |
1291 | sis, most significant byte first. The rest of the entry is the corre- | sis, most significant byte first. The rest of the entry is the corre- |
1292 | sponding name, zero terminated. The names are in alphabetical order. | sponding name, zero terminated. The names are in alphabetical order. |
1293 | For example, consider the following pattern (assume PCRE_EXTENDED is | For example, consider the following pattern (assume PCRE_EXTENDED is |
1294 | set, so white space - including newlines - is ignored): | set, so white space - including newlines - is ignored): |
1295 | ||
1296 | (?P<date> (?P<year>(\d\d)?\d\d) - | (?P<date> (?P<year>(\d\d)?\d\d) - |
1297 | (?P<month>\d\d) - (?P<day>\d\d) ) | (?P<month>\d\d) - (?P<day>\d\d) ) |
1298 | ||
1299 | There are four named subpatterns, so the table has four entries, and | There are four named subpatterns, so the table has four entries, and |
1300 | each entry in the table is eight bytes long. The table is as follows, | each entry in the table is eight bytes long. The table is as follows, |
1301 | with non-printing bytes shows in hexadecimal, and undefined bytes shown | with non-printing bytes shows in hexadecimal, and undefined bytes shown |
1302 | as ??: | as ??: |
1303 | ||
# | Line 990 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN | Line 1306 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN |
1306 | 00 04 m o n t h 00 | 00 04 m o n t h 00 |
1307 | 00 02 y e a r 00 ?? | 00 02 y e a r 00 ?? |
1308 | ||
1309 | When writing code to extract data from named subpatterns using the | When writing code to extract data from named subpatterns using the |
1310 | name-to-number map, remember that the length of each entry is likely to | name-to-number map, remember that the length of each entry is likely to |
1311 | be different for each compiled pattern. | be different for each compiled pattern. |
1312 | ||
1313 | PCRE_INFO_OPTIONS | PCRE_INFO_OPTIONS |
1314 | ||
1315 | Return a copy of the options with which the pattern was compiled. The | Return a copy of the options with which the pattern was compiled. The |
1316 | fourth argument should point to an unsigned long int variable. These | fourth argument should point to an unsigned long int variable. These |
1317 | option bits are those specified in the call to pcre_compile(), modified | option bits are those specified in the call to pcre_compile(), modified |
1318 | by any top-level option settings within the pattern itself. | by any top-level option settings within the pattern itself. |
1319 | ||
1320 | A pattern is automatically anchored by PCRE if all of its top-level | A pattern is automatically anchored by PCRE if all of its top-level |
1321 | alternatives begin with one of the following: | alternatives begin with one of the following: |
1322 | ||
1323 | ^ unless PCRE_MULTILINE is set | ^ unless PCRE_MULTILINE is set |
# | Line 1015 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN | Line 1331 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN |
1331 | ||
1332 | PCRE_INFO_SIZE | PCRE_INFO_SIZE |
1333 | ||
1334 | Return the size of the compiled pattern, that is, the value that was | Return the size of the compiled pattern, that is, the value that was |
1335 | passed as the argument to pcre_malloc() when PCRE was getting memory in | passed as the argument to pcre_malloc() when PCRE was getting memory in |
1336 | which to place the compiled data. The fourth argument should point to a | which to place the compiled data. The fourth argument should point to a |
1337 | size_t variable. | size_t variable. |
# | Line 1023 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN | Line 1339 INFORMATION ABOUT A PATTERN |
1339 | PCRE_INFO_STUDYSIZE | PCRE_INFO_STUDYSIZE |
1340 | ||
1341 | Return the size of the data block pointed to by the study_data field in | Return the size of the data block pointed to by the study_data field in |
1342 | a pcre_extra block. That is, it is the value that was passed to | a pcre_extra block. That is, it is the value that was passed to |
1343 | pcre_malloc() when PCRE was getting memory into which to place the data | pcre_malloc() when PCRE was getting memory into which to place the data |
1344 | created by pcre_study(). The fourth argument should point to a size_t | created by pcre_study(). The fourth argument should point to a size_t |
1345 | variable. | variable. |
1346 | ||
1347 | ||
# | Line 1033 OBSOLETE INFO FUNCTION | Line 1349 OBSOLETE INFO FUNCTION |
1349 | ||
1350 | int pcre_info(const pcre *code, int *optptr, int *firstcharptr); | int pcre_info(const pcre *code, int *optptr, int *firstcharptr); |
1351 | ||
1352 | The pcre_info() function is now obsolete because its interface is too | The pcre_info() function is now obsolete because its interface is too |
1353 | restrictive to return all the available data about a compiled pattern. | restrictive to return all the available data about a compiled pattern. |
1354 | New programs should use pcre_fullinfo() instead. The yield of | New programs should use pcre_fullinfo() instead. The yield of |
1355 | pcre_info() is the number of capturing subpatterns, or one of the fol- | pcre_info() is the number of capturing subpatterns, or one of the fol- |
1356 | lowing negative numbers: | lowing negative numbers: |
1357 | ||
1358 | PCRE_ERROR_NULL the argument code was NULL | PCRE_ERROR_NULL the argument code was NULL |
1359 | PCRE_ERROR_BADMAGIC the "magic number" was not found | PCRE_ERROR_BADMAGIC the "magic number" was not found |
1360 | ||
1361 | If the optptr argument is not NULL, a copy of the options with which | If the optptr argument is not NULL, a copy of the options with which |
1362 | the pattern was compiled is placed in the integer it points to (see | the pattern was compiled is placed in the integer it points to (see |
1363 | PCRE_INFO_OPTIONS above). | PCRE_INFO_OPTIONS above). |
1364 | ||
1365 | If the pattern is not anchored and the firstcharptr argument is not | If the pattern is not anchored and the firstcharptr argument is not |
1366 | NULL, it is used to pass back information about the first character of | NULL, it is used to pass back information about the first character of |
1367 | any matched string (see PCRE_INFO_FIRSTBYTE above). | any matched string (see PCRE_INFO_FIRSTBYTE above). |
1368 | ||
1369 | ||
1370 | MATCHING A PATTERN | REFERENCE COUNTS |
1371 | ||
1372 | int pcre_refcount(pcre *code, int adjust); | |
1373 | ||
1374 | The pcre_refcount() function is used to maintain a reference count in | |
1375 | the data block that contains a compiled pattern. It is provided for the | |
1376 | benefit of applications that operate in an object-oriented manner, | |
1377 | where different parts of the application may be using the same compiled | |
1378 | pattern, but you want to free the block when they are all done. | |
1379 | ||
1380 | When a pattern is compiled, the reference count field is initialized to | |
1381 | zero. It is changed only by calling this function, whose action is to | |
1382 | add the adjust value (which may be positive or negative) to it. The | |
1383 | yield of the function is the new value. However, the value of the count | |
1384 | is constrained to lie between 0 and 65535, inclusive. If the new value | |
1385 | is outside these limits, it is forced to the appropriate limit value. | |
1386 | ||
1387 | Except when it is zero, the reference count is not correctly preserved | |
1388 | if a pattern is compiled on one host and then transferred to a host | |
1389 | whose byte-order is different. (This seems a highly unlikely scenario.) | |
1390 | ||
1391 | ||
1392 | MATCHING A PATTERN: THE TRADITIONAL FUNCTION | |
1393 | ||
1394 | int pcre_exec(const pcre *code, const pcre_extra *extra, | int pcre_exec(const pcre *code, const pcre_extra *extra, |
1395 | const char *subject, int length, int startoffset, | const char *subject, int length, int startoffset, |
1396 | int options, int *ovector, int ovecsize); | int options, int *ovector, int ovecsize); |
1397 | ||
1398 | The function pcre_exec() is called to match a subject string against a | The function pcre_exec() is called to match a subject string against a |
1399 | compiled pattern, which is passed in the code argument. If the pattern | compiled pattern, which is passed in the code argument. If the pattern |
1400 | has been studied, the result of the study should be passed in the extra | has been studied, the result of the study should be passed in the extra |
1401 | argument. | argument. This function is the main matching facility of the library, |
1402 | and it operates in a Perl-like manner. For specialist use there is also | |
1403 | an alternative matching function, which is described below in the sec- | |
1404 | tion about the pcre_dfa_exec() function. | |
1405 | ||
1406 | In most applications, the pattern will have been compiled (and option- | In most applications, the pattern will have been compiled (and option- |
1407 | ally studied) in the same process that calls pcre_exec(). However, it | ally studied) in the same process that calls pcre_exec(). However, it |
# | Line 1080 MATCHING A PATTERN | Line 1421 MATCHING A PATTERN |
1421 | 0, /* start at offset 0 in the subject */ | 0, /* start at offset 0 in the subject */ |
1422 | 0, /* default options */ | 0, /* default options */ |
1423 | ovector, /* vector of integers for substring information */ | ovector, /* vector of integers for substring information */ |
1424 | 30); /* number of elements in the vector (NOT size in | 30); /* number of elements (NOT size in bytes) */ |
bytes) */ | ||
1425 | ||
1426 | Extra data for pcre_exec() | Extra data for pcre_exec() |
1427 | ||
1428 | If the extra argument is not NULL, it must point to a pcre_extra data | If the extra argument is not NULL, it must point to a pcre_extra data |
1429 | block. The pcre_study() function returns such a block (when it doesn't | block. The pcre_study() function returns such a block (when it doesn't |
1430 | return NULL), but you can also create one for yourself, and pass addi- | return NULL), but you can also create one for yourself, and pass addi- |
1431 | tional information in it. The fields in a pcre_extra block are as fol- | tional information in it. The fields in a pcre_extra block are as fol- |
1432 | lows: | lows: |
1433 | ||
1434 | unsigned long int flags; | unsigned long int flags; |
# | Line 1097 MATCHING A PATTERN | Line 1437 MATCHING A PATTERN |
1437 | void *callout_data; | void *callout_data; |
1438 | const unsigned char *tables; | const unsigned char *tables; |
1439 | ||
1440 | The flags field is a bitmap that specifies which of the other fields | The flags field is a bitmap that specifies which of the other fields |
1441 | are set. The flag bits are: | are set. The flag bits are: |
1442 | ||
1443 | PCRE_EXTRA_STUDY_DATA | PCRE_EXTRA_STUDY_DATA |
# | Line 1105 MATCHING A PATTERN | Line 1445 MATCHING A PATTERN |
1445 | PCRE_EXTRA_CALLOUT_DATA | PCRE_EXTRA_CALLOUT_DATA |
1446 | PCRE_EXTRA_TABLES | PCRE_EXTRA_TABLES |
1447 | ||
1448 | Other flag bits should be set to zero. The study_data field is set in | Other flag bits should be set to zero. The study_data field is set in |
1449 | the pcre_extra block that is returned by pcre_study(), together with | the pcre_extra block that is returned by pcre_study(), together with |
1450 | the appropriate flag bit. You should not set this yourself, but you may | the appropriate flag bit. You should not set this yourself, but you may |
1451 | add to the block by setting the other fields and their corresponding | add to the block by setting the other fields and their corresponding |
1452 | flag bits. | flag bits. |
1453 | ||
1454 | The match_limit field provides a means of preventing PCRE from using up | The match_limit field provides a means of preventing PCRE from using up |
1455 | a vast amount of resources when running patterns that are not going to | a vast amount of resources when running patterns that are not going to |
1456 | match, but which have a very large number of possibilities in their | match, but which have a very large number of possibilities in their |
1457 | search trees. The classic example is the use of nested unlimited | search trees. The classic example is the use of nested unlimited |
1458 | repeats. | repeats. |
1459 | ||
1460 | Internally, PCRE uses a function called match() which it calls repeat- | Internally, PCRE uses a function called match() which it calls repeat- |
1461 | edly (sometimes recursively). The limit is imposed on the number of | edly (sometimes recursively). The limit is imposed on the number of |
1462 | times this function is called during a match, which has the effect of | times this function is called during a match, which has the effect of |
1463 | limiting the amount of recursion and backtracking that can take place. | limiting the amount of recursion and backtracking that can take place. |
1464 | For patterns that are not anchored, the count starts from zero for each | For patterns that are not anchored, the count starts from zero for each |
1465 | position in the subject string. | position in the subject string. |
1466 | ||
1467 | The default limit for the library can be set when PCRE is built; the | The default limit for the library can be set when PCRE is built; the |
1468 | default default is 10 million, which handles all but the most extreme | default default is 10 million, which handles all but the most extreme |
1469 | cases. You can reduce the default by suppling pcre_exec() with a | cases. You can reduce the default by suppling pcre_exec() with a |
1470 | pcre_extra block in which match_limit is set to a smaller value, and | pcre_extra block in which match_limit is set to a smaller value, and |
1471 | PCRE_EXTRA_MATCH_LIMIT is set in the flags field. If the limit is | PCRE_EXTRA_MATCH_LIMIT is set in the flags field. If the limit is |
1472 | exceeded, pcre_exec() returns PCRE_ERROR_MATCHLIMIT. | exceeded, pcre_exec() returns PCRE_ERROR_MATCHLIMIT. |
1473 | ||
1474 | The pcre_callout field is used in conjunction with the "callout" fea- | The pcre_callout field is used in conjunction with the "callout" fea- |
1475 | ture, which is described in the pcrecallout documentation. | ture, which is described in the pcrecallout documentation. |
1476 | ||
1477 | The tables field is used to pass a character tables pointer to | The tables field is used to pass a character tables pointer to |
1478 | pcre_exec(); this overrides the value that is stored with the compiled | pcre_exec(); this overrides the value that is stored with the compiled |
1479 | pattern. A non-NULL value is stored with the compiled pattern only if | pattern. A non-NULL value is stored with the compiled pattern only if |
1480 | custom tables were supplied to pcre_compile() via its tableptr argu- | custom tables were supplied to pcre_compile() via its tableptr argu- |
1481 | ment. If NULL is passed to pcre_exec() using this mechanism, it forces | ment. If NULL is passed to pcre_exec() using this mechanism, it forces |
1482 | PCRE's internal tables to be used. This facility is helpful when re- | PCRE's internal tables to be used. This facility is helpful when re- |
1483 | using patterns that have been saved after compiling with an external | using patterns that have been saved after compiling with an external |
1484 | set of tables, because the external tables might be at a different | set of tables, because the external tables might be at a different |
1485 | address when pcre_exec() is called. See the pcreprecompile documenta- | address when pcre_exec() is called. See the pcreprecompile documenta- |
1486 | tion for a discussion of saving compiled patterns for later use. | tion for a discussion of saving compiled patterns for later use. |
1487 | ||
1488 | Option bits for pcre_exec() | Option bits for pcre_exec() |
1489 | ||
1490 | The unused bits of the options argument for pcre_exec() must be zero. | The unused bits of the options argument for pcre_exec() must be zero. |
1491 | The only bits that may be set are PCRE_ANCHORED, PCRE_NOTBOL, | The only bits that may be set are PCRE_ANCHORED, PCRE_NOTBOL, |
1492 | PCRE_NOTEOL, PCRE_NOTEMPTY, PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK and PCRE_PARTIAL. | PCRE_NOTEOL, PCRE_NOTEMPTY, PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK and PCRE_PARTIAL. |
1493 | ||
1494 | PCRE_ANCHORED | PCRE_ANCHORED |
1495 | ||
1496 | The PCRE_ANCHORED option limits pcre_exec() to matching at the first | The PCRE_ANCHORED option limits pcre_exec() to matching at the first |
1497 | matching position. If a pattern was compiled with PCRE_ANCHORED, or | matching position. If a pattern was compiled with PCRE_ANCHORED, or |
1498 | turned out to be anchored by virtue of its contents, it cannot be made | turned out to be anchored by virtue of its contents, it cannot be made |
1499 | unachored at matching time. | unachored at matching time. |
1500 | ||
1501 | PCRE_NOTBOL | PCRE_NOTBOL |
1502 | ||
1503 | This option specifies that first character of the subject string is not | This option specifies that first character of the subject string is not |
1504 | the beginning of a line, so the circumflex metacharacter should not | the beginning of a line, so the circumflex metacharacter should not |
1505 | match before it. Setting this without PCRE_MULTILINE (at compile time) | match before it. Setting this without PCRE_MULTILINE (at compile time) |
1506 | causes circumflex never to match. This option affects only the | causes circumflex never to match. This option affects only the behav- |
1507 | behaviour of the circumflex metacharacter. It does not affect \A. | iour of the circumflex metacharacter. It does not affect \A. |
1508 | ||
1509 | PCRE_NOTEOL | PCRE_NOTEOL |
1510 | ||
1511 | This option specifies that the end of the subject string is not the end | This option specifies that the end of the subject string is not the end |
1512 | of a line, so the dollar metacharacter should not match it nor (except | of a line, so the dollar metacharacter should not match it nor (except |
1513 | in multiline mode) a newline immediately before it. Setting this with- | in multiline mode) a newline immediately before it. Setting this with- |
1514 | out PCRE_MULTILINE (at compile time) causes dollar never to match. This | out PCRE_MULTILINE (at compile time) causes dollar never to match. This |
1515 | option affects only the behaviour of the dollar metacharacter. It does | option affects only the behaviour of the dollar metacharacter. It does |
1516 | not affect \Z or \z. | not affect \Z or \z. |
1517 | ||
1518 | PCRE_NOTEMPTY | PCRE_NOTEMPTY |
1519 | ||
1520 | An empty string is not considered to be a valid match if this option is | An empty string is not considered to be a valid match if this option is |
1521 | set. If there are alternatives in the pattern, they are tried. If all | set. If there are alternatives in the pattern, they are tried. If all |
1522 | the alternatives match the empty string, the entire match fails. For | the alternatives match the empty string, the entire match fails. For |
1523 | example, if the pattern | example, if the pattern |
1524 | ||
1525 | a?b? | a?b? |
1526 | ||
1527 | is applied to a string not beginning with "a" or "b", it matches the | is applied to a string not beginning with "a" or "b", it matches the |
1528 | empty string at the start of the subject. With PCRE_NOTEMPTY set, this | empty string at the start of the subject. With PCRE_NOTEMPTY set, this |
1529 | match is not valid, so PCRE searches further into the string for occur- | match is not valid, so PCRE searches further into the string for occur- |
1530 | rences of "a" or "b". | rences of "a" or "b". |
1531 | ||
1532 | Perl has no direct equivalent of PCRE_NOTEMPTY, but it does make a spe- | Perl has no direct equivalent of PCRE_NOTEMPTY, but it does make a spe- |
1533 | cial case of a pattern match of the empty string within its split() | cial case of a pattern match of the empty string within its split() |
1534 | function, and when using the /g modifier. It is possible to emulate | function, and when using the /g modifier. It is possible to emulate |
1535 | Perl's behaviour after matching a null string by first trying the match | Perl's behaviour after matching a null string by first trying the match |
1536 | again at the same offset with PCRE_NOTEMPTY and PCRE_ANCHORED, and then | again at the same offset with PCRE_NOTEMPTY and PCRE_ANCHORED, and then |
1537 | if that fails by advancing the starting offset (see below) and trying | if that fails by advancing the starting offset (see below) and trying |
1538 | an ordinary match again. There is some code that demonstrates how to do | an ordinary match again. There is some code that demonstrates how to do |
1539 | this in the pcredemo.c sample program. | this in the pcredemo.c sample program. |
1540 | ||
1541 | PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK | PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK |
1542 | ||
1543 | When PCRE_UTF8 is set at compile time, the validity of the subject as a | When PCRE_UTF8 is set at compile time, the validity of the subject as a |
1544 | UTF-8 string is automatically checked when pcre_exec() is subsequently | UTF-8 string is automatically checked when pcre_exec() is subsequently |
1545 | called. The value of startoffset is also checked to ensure that it | called. The value of startoffset is also checked to ensure that it |
1546 | points to the start of a UTF-8 character. If an invalid UTF-8 sequence | points to the start of a UTF-8 character. If an invalid UTF-8 sequence |
1547 | of bytes is found, pcre_exec() returns the error PCRE_ERROR_BADUTF8. If | of bytes is found, pcre_exec() returns the error PCRE_ERROR_BADUTF8. If |
1548 | startoffset contains an invalid value, PCRE_ERROR_BADUTF8_OFFSET is | startoffset contains an invalid value, PCRE_ERROR_BADUTF8_OFFSET is |
1549 | returned. | returned. |
1550 | ||
1551 | If you already know that your subject is valid, and you want to skip | If you already know that your subject is valid, and you want to skip |
1552 | these checks for performance reasons, you can set the | these checks for performance reasons, you can set the |
1553 | PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK option when calling pcre_exec(). You might want to | PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK option when calling pcre_exec(). You might want to |
1554 | do this for the second and subsequent calls to pcre_exec() if you are | do this for the second and subsequent calls to pcre_exec() if you are |
1555 | making repeated calls to find all the matches in a single subject | making repeated calls to find all the matches in a single subject |
1556 | string. However, you should be sure that the value of startoffset | string. However, you should be sure that the value of startoffset |
1557 | points to the start of a UTF-8 character. When PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK is | points to the start of a UTF-8 character. When PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK is |
1558 | set, the effect of passing an invalid UTF-8 string as a subject, or a | set, the effect of passing an invalid UTF-8 string as a subject, or a |
1559 | value of startoffset that does not point to the start of a UTF-8 char- | value of startoffset that does not point to the start of a UTF-8 char- |
1560 | acter, is undefined. Your program may crash. | acter, is undefined. Your program may crash. |
1561 | ||
1562 | PCRE_PARTIAL | PCRE_PARTIAL |
1563 | ||
1564 | This option turns on the partial matching feature. If the subject | This option turns on the partial matching feature. If the subject |
1565 | string fails to match the pattern, but at some point during the match- | string fails to match the pattern, but at some point during the match- |
1566 | ing process the end of the subject was reached (that is, the subject | ing process the end of the subject was reached (that is, the subject |
1567 | partially matches the pattern and the failure to match occurred only | partially matches the pattern and the failure to match occurred only |
1568 | because there were not enough subject characters), pcre_exec() returns | because there were not enough subject characters), pcre_exec() returns |
1569 | PCRE_ERROR_PARTIAL instead of PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH. When PCRE_PARTIAL is | PCRE_ERROR_PARTIAL instead of PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH. When PCRE_PARTIAL is |
1570 | used, there are restrictions on what may appear in the pattern. These | used, there are restrictions on what may appear in the pattern. These |
1571 | are discussed in the pcrepartial documentation. | are discussed in the pcrepartial documentation. |
1572 | ||
1573 | The string to be matched by pcre_exec() | The string to be matched by pcre_exec() |
1574 | ||
1575 | The subject string is passed to pcre_exec() as a pointer in subject, a | The subject string is passed to pcre_exec() as a pointer in subject, a |
1576 | length in length, and a starting byte offset in startoffset. In UTF-8 | length in length, and a starting byte offset in startoffset. In UTF-8 |
1577 | mode, the byte offset must point to the start of a UTF-8 character. | mode, the byte offset must point to the start of a UTF-8 character. |
1578 | Unlike the pattern string, the subject may contain binary zero bytes. | Unlike the pattern string, the subject may contain binary zero bytes. |
1579 | When the starting offset is zero, the search for a match starts at the | When the starting offset is zero, the search for a match starts at the |
1580 | beginning of the subject, and this is by far the most common case. | beginning of the subject, and this is by far the most common case. |
1581 | ||
1582 | A non-zero starting offset is useful when searching for another match | A non-zero starting offset is useful when searching for another match |
1583 | in the same subject by calling pcre_exec() again after a previous suc- | in the same subject by calling pcre_exec() again after a previous suc- |
1584 | cess. Setting startoffset differs from just passing over a shortened | cess. Setting startoffset differs from just passing over a shortened |
1585 | string and setting PCRE_NOTBOL in the case of a pattern that begins | string and setting PCRE_NOTBOL in the case of a pattern that begins |
1586 | with any kind of lookbehind. For example, consider the pattern | with any kind of lookbehind. For example, consider the pattern |
1587 | ||
1588 | \Biss\B | \Biss\B |
1589 | ||
1590 | which finds occurrences of "iss" in the middle of words. (\B matches | which finds occurrences of "iss" in the middle of words. (\B matches |
1591 | only if the current position in the subject is not a word boundary.) | only if the current position in the subject is not a word boundary.) |
1592 | When applied to the string "Mississipi" the first call to pcre_exec() | When applied to the string "Mississipi" the first call to pcre_exec() |
1593 | finds the first occurrence. If pcre_exec() is called again with just | finds the first occurrence. If pcre_exec() is called again with just |
1594 | the remainder of the subject, namely "issipi", it does not match, | the remainder of the subject, namely "issipi", it does not match, |
1595 | because \B is always false at the start of the subject, which is deemed | because \B is always false at the start of the subject, which is deemed |
1596 | to be a word boundary. However, if pcre_exec() is passed the entire | to be a word boundary. However, if pcre_exec() is passed the entire |
1597 | string again, but with startoffset set to 4, it finds the second occur- | string again, but with startoffset set to 4, it finds the second occur- |
1598 | rence of "iss" because it is able to look behind the starting point to | rence of "iss" because it is able to look behind the starting point to |
1599 | discover that it is preceded by a letter. | discover that it is preceded by a letter. |
1600 | ||
1601 | If a non-zero starting offset is passed when the pattern is anchored, | If a non-zero starting offset is passed when the pattern is anchored, |
1602 | one attempt to match at the given offset is made. This can only succeed | one attempt to match at the given offset is made. This can only succeed |
1603 | if the pattern does not require the match to be at the start of the | if the pattern does not require the match to be at the start of the |
1604 | subject. | subject. |
1605 | ||
1606 | How pcre_exec() returns captured substrings | How pcre_exec() returns captured substrings |
1607 | ||
1608 | In general, a pattern matches a certain portion of the subject, and in | In general, a pattern matches a certain portion of the subject, and in |
1609 | addition, further substrings from the subject may be picked out by | addition, further substrings from the subject may be picked out by |
1610 | parts of the pattern. Following the usage in Jeffrey Friedl's book, | parts of the pattern. Following the usage in Jeffrey Friedl's book, |
1611 | this is called "capturing" in what follows, and the phrase "capturing | this is called "capturing" in what follows, and the phrase "capturing |
1612 | subpattern" is used for a fragment of a pattern that picks out a sub- | subpattern" is used for a fragment of a pattern that picks out a sub- |
1613 | string. PCRE supports several other kinds of parenthesized subpattern | string. PCRE supports several other kinds of parenthesized subpattern |
1614 | that do not cause substrings to be captured. | that do not cause substrings to be captured. |
1615 | ||
1616 | Captured substrings are returned to the caller via a vector of integer | Captured substrings are returned to the caller via a vector of integer |
1617 | offsets whose address is passed in ovector. The number of elements in | offsets whose address is passed in ovector. The number of elements in |
1618 | the vector is passed in ovecsize, which must be a non-negative number. | the vector is passed in ovecsize, which must be a non-negative number. |
1619 | Note: this argument is NOT the size of ovector in bytes. | Note: this argument is NOT the size of ovector in bytes. |
1620 | ||
1621 | The first two-thirds of the vector is used to pass back captured sub- | The first two-thirds of the vector is used to pass back captured sub- |
1622 | strings, each substring using a pair of integers. The remaining third | strings, each substring using a pair of integers. The remaining third |
1623 | of the vector is used as workspace by pcre_exec() while matching cap- | of the vector is used as workspace by pcre_exec() while matching cap- |
1624 | turing subpatterns, and is not available for passing back information. | turing subpatterns, and is not available for passing back information. |
1625 | The length passed in ovecsize should always be a multiple of three. If | The length passed in ovecsize should always be a multiple of three. If |
1626 | it is not, it is rounded down. | it is not, it is rounded down. |
1627 | ||
1628 | When a match is successful, information about captured substrings is | When a match is successful, information about captured substrings is |
1629 | returned in pairs of integers, starting at the beginning of ovector, | returned in pairs of integers, starting at the beginning of ovector, |
1630 | and continuing up to two-thirds of its length at the most. The first | and continuing up to two-thirds of its length at the most. The first |
1631 | element of a pair is set to the offset of the first character in a sub- | element of a pair is set to the offset of the first character in a sub- |
1632 | string, and the second is set to the offset of the first character | string, and the second is set to the offset of the first character |
1633 | after the end of a substring. The first pair, ovector[0] and ovec- | after the end of a substring. The first pair, ovector[0] and ovec- |
1634 | tor[1], identify the portion of the subject string matched by the | tor[1], identify the portion of the subject string matched by the |
1635 | entire pattern. The next pair is used for the first capturing subpat- | entire pattern. The next pair is used for the first capturing subpat- |
1636 | tern, and so on. The value returned by pcre_exec() is the number of | tern, and so on. The value returned by pcre_exec() is the number of |
1637 | pairs that have been set. If there are no capturing subpatterns, the | pairs that have been set. If there are no capturing subpatterns, the |
1638 | return value from a successful match is 1, indicating that just the | return value from a successful match is 1, indicating that just the |
1639 | first pair of offsets has been set. | first pair of offsets has been set. |
1640 | ||
1641 | Some convenience functions are provided for extracting the captured | Some convenience functions are provided for extracting the captured |
1642 | substrings as separate strings. These are described in the following | substrings as separate strings. These are described in the following |
1643 | section. | section. |
1644 | ||
1645 | It is possible for an capturing subpattern number n+1 to match some | It is possible for an capturing subpattern number n+1 to match some |
1646 | part of the subject when subpattern n has not been used at all. For | part of the subject when subpattern n has not been used at all. For |
1647 | example, if the string "abc" is matched against the pattern (a|(z))(bc) | example, if the string "abc" is matched against the pattern (a|(z))(bc) |
1648 | subpatterns 1 and 3 are matched, but 2 is not. When this happens, both | subpatterns 1 and 3 are matched, but 2 is not. When this happens, both |
1649 | offset values corresponding to the unused subpattern are set to -1. | offset values corresponding to the unused subpattern are set to -1. |
1650 | ||
1651 | If a capturing subpattern is matched repeatedly, it is the last portion | If a capturing subpattern is matched repeatedly, it is the last portion |
1652 | of the string that it matched that is returned. | of the string that it matched that is returned. |
1653 | ||
1654 | If the vector is too small to hold all the captured substring offsets, | If the vector is too small to hold all the captured substring offsets, |
1655 | it is used as far as possible (up to two-thirds of its length), and the | it is used as far as possible (up to two-thirds of its length), and the |
1656 | function returns a value of zero. In particular, if the substring off- | function returns a value of zero. In particular, if the substring off- |
1657 | sets are not of interest, pcre_exec() may be called with ovector passed | sets are not of interest, pcre_exec() may be called with ovector passed |
1658 | as NULL and ovecsize as zero. However, if the pattern contains back | as NULL and ovecsize as zero. However, if the pattern contains back |
1659 | references and the ovector is not big enough to remember the related | references and the ovector is not big enough to remember the related |
1660 | substrings, PCRE has to get additional memory for use during matching. | substrings, PCRE has to get additional memory for use during matching. |
1661 | Thus it is usually advisable to supply an ovector. | Thus it is usually advisable to supply an ovector. |
1662 | ||
1663 | Note that pcre_info() can be used to find out how many capturing sub- | Note that pcre_info() can be used to find out how many capturing sub- |
1664 | patterns there are in a compiled pattern. The smallest size for ovector | patterns there are in a compiled pattern. The smallest size for ovector |
1665 | that will allow for n captured substrings, in addition to the offsets | that will allow for n captured substrings, in addition to the offsets |
1666 | of the substring matched by the whole pattern, is (n+1)*3. | of the substring matched by the whole pattern, is (n+1)*3. |
1667 | ||
1668 | Return values from pcre_exec() | Return values from pcre_exec() |
1669 | ||
1670 | If pcre_exec() fails, it returns a negative number. The following are | If pcre_exec() fails, it returns a negative number. The following are |
1671 | defined in the header file: | defined in the header file: |
1672 | ||
1673 | PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH (-1) | PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH (-1) |
# | Line 1336 MATCHING A PATTERN | Line 1676 MATCHING A PATTERN |
1676 | ||
1677 | PCRE_ERROR_NULL (-2) | PCRE_ERROR_NULL (-2) |
1678 | ||
1679 | Either code or subject was passed as NULL, or ovector was NULL and | Either code or subject was passed as NULL, or ovector was NULL and |
1680 | ovecsize was not zero. | ovecsize was not zero. |
1681 | ||
1682 | PCRE_ERROR_BADOPTION (-3) | PCRE_ERROR_BADOPTION (-3) |
# | Line 1345 MATCHING A PATTERN | Line 1685 MATCHING A PATTERN |
1685 | ||
1686 | PCRE_ERROR_BADMAGIC (-4) | PCRE_ERROR_BADMAGIC (-4) |
1687 | ||
1688 | PCRE stores a 4-byte "magic number" at the start of the compiled code, | PCRE stores a 4-byte "magic number" at the start of the compiled code, |
1689 | to catch the case when it is passed a junk pointer and to detect when a | to catch the case when it is passed a junk pointer and to detect when a |
1690 | pattern that was compiled in an environment of one endianness is run in | pattern that was compiled in an environment of one endianness is run in |
1691 | an environment with the other endianness. This is the error that PCRE | an environment with the other endianness. This is the error that PCRE |
1692 | gives when the magic number is not present. | gives when the magic number is not present. |
1693 | ||
1694 | PCRE_ERROR_UNKNOWN_NODE (-5) | PCRE_ERROR_UNKNOWN_NODE (-5) |
1695 | ||
1696 | While running the pattern match, an unknown item was encountered in the | While running the pattern match, an unknown item was encountered in the |
1697 | compiled pattern. This error could be caused by a bug in PCRE or by | compiled pattern. This error could be caused by a bug in PCRE or by |
1698 | overwriting of the compiled pattern. | overwriting of the compiled pattern. |
1699 | ||
1700 | PCRE_ERROR_NOMEMORY (-6) | PCRE_ERROR_NOMEMORY (-6) |
1701 | ||
1702 | If a pattern contains back references, but the ovector that is passed | If a pattern contains back references, but the ovector that is passed |
1703 | to pcre_exec() is not big enough to remember the referenced substrings, | to pcre_exec() is not big enough to remember the referenced substrings, |
1704 | PCRE gets a block of memory at the start of matching to use for this | PCRE gets a block of memory at the start of matching to use for this |
1705 | purpose. If the call via pcre_malloc() fails, this error is given. The | purpose. If the call via pcre_malloc() fails, this error is given. The |
1706 | memory is automatically freed at the end of matching. | memory is automatically freed at the end of matching. |
1707 | ||
1708 | PCRE_ERROR_NOSUBSTRING (-7) | PCRE_ERROR_NOSUBSTRING (-7) |
1709 | ||
1710 | This error is used by the pcre_copy_substring(), pcre_get_substring(), | This error is used by the pcre_copy_substring(), pcre_get_substring(), |
1711 | and pcre_get_substring_list() functions (see below). It is never | and pcre_get_substring_list() functions (see below). It is never |
1712 | returned by pcre_exec(). | returned by pcre_exec(). |
1713 | ||
1714 | PCRE_ERROR_MATCHLIMIT (-8) | PCRE_ERROR_MATCHLIMIT (-8) |
1715 | ||
1716 | The recursion and backtracking limit, as specified by the match_limit | The recursion and backtracking limit, as specified by the match_limit |
1717 | field in a pcre_extra structure (or defaulted) was reached. See the | field in a pcre_extra structure (or defaulted) was reached. See the |
1718 | description above. | description above. |
1719 | ||
1720 | PCRE_ERROR_CALLOUT (-9) | PCRE_ERROR_CALLOUT (-9) |
1721 | ||
1722 | This error is never generated by pcre_exec() itself. It is provided for | This error is never generated by pcre_exec() itself. It is provided for |
1723 | use by callout functions that want to yield a distinctive error code. | use by callout functions that want to yield a distinctive error code. |
1724 | See the pcrecallout documentation for details. | See the pcrecallout documentation for details. |
1725 | ||
1726 | PCRE_ERROR_BADUTF8 (-10) | PCRE_ERROR_BADUTF8 (-10) |
1727 | ||
1728 | A string that contains an invalid UTF-8 byte sequence was passed as a | A string that contains an invalid UTF-8 byte sequence was passed as a |
1729 | subject. | subject. |
1730 | ||
1731 | PCRE_ERROR_BADUTF8_OFFSET (-11) | PCRE_ERROR_BADUTF8_OFFSET (-11) |
1732 | ||
1733 | The UTF-8 byte sequence that was passed as a subject was valid, but the | The UTF-8 byte sequence that was passed as a subject was valid, but the |
1734 | value of startoffset did not point to the beginning of a UTF-8 charac- | value of startoffset did not point to the beginning of a UTF-8 charac- |
1735 | ter. | ter. |
1736 | ||
1737 | PCRE_ERROR_PARTIAL (-12) | PCRE_ERROR_PARTIAL (-12) |
1738 | ||
1739 | The subject string did not match, but it did match partially. See the | The subject string did not match, but it did match partially. See the |
1740 | pcrepartial documentation for details of partial matching. | pcrepartial documentation for details of partial matching. |
1741 | ||
1742 | PCRE_ERROR_BAD_PARTIAL (-13) | PCRE_ERROR_BADPARTIAL (-13) |
1743 | ||
1744 | The PCRE_PARTIAL option was used with a compiled pattern containing | The PCRE_PARTIAL option was used with a compiled pattern containing |
1745 | items that are not supported for partial matching. See the pcrepartial | items that are not supported for partial matching. See the pcrepartial |
1746 | documentation for details of partial matching. | documentation for details of partial matching. |
1747 | ||
1748 | PCRE_ERROR_INTERNAL (-14) | PCRE_ERROR_INTERNAL (-14) |
1749 | ||
1750 | An unexpected internal error has occurred. This error could be caused | An unexpected internal error has occurred. This error could be caused |
1751 | by a bug in PCRE or by overwriting of the compiled pattern. | by a bug in PCRE or by overwriting of the compiled pattern. |
1752 | ||
1753 | PCRE_ERROR_BADCOUNT (-15) | PCRE_ERROR_BADCOUNT (-15) |
1754 | ||
1755 | This error is given if the value of the ovecsize argument is negative. | This error is given if the value of the ovecsize argument is negative. |
1756 | ||
1757 | ||
1758 | EXTRACTING CAPTURED SUBSTRINGS BY NUMBER | EXTRACTING CAPTURED SUBSTRINGS BY NUMBER |
# | Line 1428 EXTRACTING CAPTURED SUBSTRINGS BY NUMBER | Line 1768 EXTRACTING CAPTURED SUBSTRINGS BY NUMBER |
1768 | int pcre_get_substring_list(const char *subject, | int pcre_get_substring_list(const char *subject, |
1769 | int *ovector, int stringcount, const char ***listptr); | int *ovector, int stringcount, const char ***listptr); |
1770 | ||
1771 | Captured substrings can be accessed directly by using the offsets | Captured substrings can be accessed directly by using the offsets |
1772 | returned by pcre_exec() in ovector. For convenience, the functions | returned by pcre_exec() in ovector. For convenience, the functions |
1773 | pcre_copy_substring(), pcre_get_substring(), and pcre_get_sub- | pcre_copy_substring(), pcre_get_substring(), and pcre_get_sub- |
1774 | string_list() are provided for extracting captured substrings as new, | string_list() are provided for extracting captured substrings as new, |
1775 | separate, zero-terminated strings. These functions identify substrings | separate, zero-terminated strings. These functions identify substrings |
1776 | by number. The next section describes functions for extracting named | by number. The next section describes functions for extracting named |
1777 | substrings. A substring that contains a binary zero is correctly | substrings. A substring that contains a binary zero is correctly |
1778 | extracted and has a further zero added on the end, but the result is | extracted and has a further zero added on the end, but the result is |
1779 | not, of course, a C string. | not, of course, a C string. |
1780 | ||
1781 | The first three arguments are the same for all three of these func- | The first three arguments are the same for all three of these func- |
1782 | tions: subject is the subject string that has just been successfully | tions: subject is the subject string that has just been successfully |
1783 | matched, ovector is a pointer to the vector of integer offsets that was | matched, ovector is a pointer to the vector of integer offsets that was |
1784 | passed to pcre_exec(), and stringcount is the number of substrings that | passed to pcre_exec(), and stringcount is the number of substrings that |
1785 | were captured by the match, including the substring that matched the | were captured by the match, including the substring that matched the |
1786 | entire regular expression. This is the value returned by pcre_exec() if | entire regular expression. This is the value returned by pcre_exec() if |
1787 | it is greater than zero. If pcre_exec() returned zero, indicating that | it is greater than zero. If pcre_exec() returned zero, indicating that |
1788 | it ran out of space in ovector, the value passed as stringcount should | it ran out of space in ovector, the value passed as stringcount should |
1789 | be the number of elements in the vector divided by three. | be the number of elements in the vector divided by three. |
1790 | ||
1791 | The functions pcre_copy_substring() and pcre_get_substring() extract a | The functions pcre_copy_substring() and pcre_get_substring() extract a |
1792 | single substring, whose number is given as stringnumber. A value of | single substring, whose number is given as stringnumber. A value of |
1793 | zero extracts the substring that matched the entire pattern, whereas | zero extracts the substring that matched the entire pattern, whereas |
1794 | higher values extract the captured substrings. For pcre_copy_sub- | higher values extract the captured substrings. For pcre_copy_sub- |
1795 | string(), the string is placed in buffer, whose length is given by | string(), the string is placed in buffer, whose length is given by |
1796 | buffersize, while for pcre_get_substring() a new block of memory is | buffersize, while for pcre_get_substring() a new block of memory is |
1797 | obtained via pcre_malloc, and its address is returned via stringptr. | obtained via pcre_malloc, and its address is returned via stringptr. |
1798 | The yield of the function is the length of the string, not including | The yield of the function is the length of the string, not including |
1799 | the terminating zero, or one of | the terminating zero, or one of |
1800 | ||
1801 | PCRE_ERROR_NOMEMORY (-6) | PCRE_ERROR_NOMEMORY (-6) |
1802 | ||
1803 | The buffer was too small for pcre_copy_substring(), or the attempt to | The buffer was too small for pcre_copy_substring(), or the attempt to |
1804 | get memory failed for pcre_get_substring(). | get memory failed for pcre_get_substring(). |
1805 | ||
1806 | PCRE_ERROR_NOSUBSTRING (-7) | PCRE_ERROR_NOSUBSTRING (-7) |
1807 | ||
1808 | There is no substring whose number is stringnumber. | There is no substring whose number is stringnumber. |
1809 | ||
1810 | The pcre_get_substring_list() function extracts all available sub- | The pcre_get_substring_list() function extracts all available sub- |
1811 | strings and builds a list of pointers to them. All this is done in a | strings and builds a list of pointers to them. All this is done in a |
1812 | single block of memory that is obtained via pcre_malloc. The address of | single block of memory that is obtained via pcre_malloc. The address of |
1813 | the memory block is returned via listptr, which is also the start of | the memory block is returned via listptr, which is also the start of |
1814 | the list of string pointers. The end of the list is marked by a NULL | the list of string pointers. The end of the list is marked by a NULL |
1815 | pointer. The yield of the function is zero if all went well, or | pointer. The yield of the function is zero if all went well, or |
1816 | ||
1817 | PCRE_ERROR_NOMEMORY (-6) | PCRE_ERROR_NOMEMORY (-6) |
1818 | ||
1819 | if the attempt to get the memory block failed. | if the attempt to get the memory block failed. |
1820 | ||
1821 | When any of these functions encounter a substring that is unset, which | When any of these functions encounter a substring that is unset, which |
1822 | can happen when capturing subpattern number n+1 matches some part of | can happen when capturing subpattern number n+1 matches some part of |
1823 | the subject, but subpattern n has not been used at all, they return an | the subject, but subpattern n has not been used at all, they return an |
1824 | empty string. This can be distinguished from a genuine zero-length sub- | empty string. This can be distinguished from a genuine zero-length sub- |
1825 | string by inspecting the appropriate offset in ovector, which is nega- | string by inspecting the appropriate offset in ovector, which is nega- |
1826 | tive for unset substrings. | tive for unset substrings. |
1827 | ||
1828 | The two convenience functions pcre_free_substring() and pcre_free_sub- | The two convenience functions pcre_free_substring() and pcre_free_sub- |
1829 | string_list() can be used to free the memory returned by a previous | string_list() can be used to free the memory returned by a previous |
1830 | call of pcre_get_substring() or pcre_get_substring_list(), respec- | call of pcre_get_substring() or pcre_get_substring_list(), respec- |
1831 | tively. They do nothing more than call the function pointed to by | tively. They do nothing more than call the function pointed to by |
1832 | pcre_free, which of course could be called directly from a C program. | pcre_free, which of course could be called directly from a C program. |
1833 | However, PCRE is used in some situations where it is linked via a spe- | However, PCRE is used in some situations where it is linked via a spe- |
1834 | cial interface to another programming language which cannot use | cial interface to another programming language which cannot use |
1835 | pcre_free directly; it is for these cases that the functions are | pcre_free directly; it is for these cases that the functions are pro- |
1836 | provided. | vided. |
1837 | ||
1838 | ||
1839 | EXTRACTING CAPTURED SUBSTRINGS BY NAME | EXTRACTING CAPTURED SUBSTRINGS BY NAME |
# | Line 1511 EXTRACTING CAPTURED SUBSTRINGS BY NAME | Line 1851 EXTRACTING CAPTURED SUBSTRINGS BY NAME |
1851 | int stringcount, const char *stringname, | int stringcount, const char *stringname, |
1852 | const char **stringptr); | const char **stringptr); |
1853 | ||
1854 | To extract a substring by name, you first have to find associated num- | To extract a substring by name, you first have to find associated num- |
1855 | ber. For example, for this pattern | ber. For example, for this pattern |
1856 | ||
1857 | (a+)b(?<xxx>\d+)... | (a+)b(?P<xxx>\d+)... |
1858 | ||
1859 | the number of the subpattern called "xxx" is 2. You can find the number | the number of the subpattern called "xxx" is 2. You can find the number |
1860 | from the name by calling pcre_get_stringnumber(). The first argument is | from the name by calling pcre_get_stringnumber(). The first argument is |
1861 | the compiled pattern, and the second is the name. The yield of the | the compiled pattern, and the second is the name. The yield of the |
1862 | function is the subpattern number, or PCRE_ERROR_NOSUBSTRING (-7) if | function is the subpattern number, or PCRE_ERROR_NOSUBSTRING (-7) if |
1863 | there is no subpattern of that name. | there is no subpattern of that name. |
1864 | ||
1865 | Given the number, you can extract the substring directly, or use one of | Given the number, you can extract the substring directly, or use one of |
1866 | the functions described in the previous section. For convenience, there | the functions described in the previous section. For convenience, there |
1867 | are also two functions that do the whole job. | are also two functions that do the whole job. |
1868 | ||
1869 | Most of the arguments of pcre_copy_named_substring() and | Most of the arguments of pcre_copy_named_substring() and |
1870 | pcre_get_named_substring() are the same as those for the similarly | pcre_get_named_substring() are the same as those for the similarly |
1871 | named functions that extract by number. As these are described in the | named functions that extract by number. As these are described in the |
1872 | previous section, they are not re-described here. There are just two | previous section, they are not re-described here. There are just two |
1873 | differences: | differences: |
1874 | ||
1875 | First, instead of a substring number, a substring name is given. Sec- | First, instead of a substring number, a substring name is given. Sec- |
1876 | ond, there is an extra argument, given at the start, which is a pointer | ond, there is an extra argument, given at the start, which is a pointer |
1877 | to the compiled pattern. This is needed in order to gain access to the | to the compiled pattern. This is needed in order to gain access to the |
1878 | name-to-number translation table. | name-to-number translation table. |
1879 | ||
1880 | These functions call pcre_get_stringnumber(), and if it succeeds, they | These functions call pcre_get_stringnumber(), and if it succeeds, they |
1881 | then call pcre_copy_substring() or pcre_get_substring(), as appropri- | then call pcre_copy_substring() or pcre_get_substring(), as appropri- |
1882 | ate. | ate. |
1883 | ||
Last updated: 09 September 2004 | ||
Copyright (c) 1997-2004 University of Cambridge. | ||
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
1884 | ||
1885 | PCRE(3) PCRE(3) | FINDING ALL POSSIBLE MATCHES |
1886 | ||
1887 | The traditional matching function uses a similar algorithm to Perl, | |
1888 | which stops when it finds the first match, starting at a given point in | |
1889 | the subject. If you want to find all possible matches, or the longest | |
1890 | possible match, consider using the alternative matching function (see | |
1891 | below) instead. If you cannot use the alternative function, but still | |
1892 | need to find all possible matches, you can kludge it up by making use | |
1893 | of the callout facility, which is described in the pcrecallout documen- | |
1894 | tation. | |
1895 | ||
1896 | What you have to do is to insert a callout right at the end of the pat- | |
1897 | tern. When your callout function is called, extract and save the cur- | |
1898 | rent matched substring. Then return 1, which forces pcre_exec() to | |
1899 | backtrack and try other alternatives. Ultimately, when it runs out of | |
1900 | matches, pcre_exec() will yield PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH. | |
1901 | ||
1902 | ||
1903 | MATCHING A PATTERN: THE ALTERNATIVE FUNCTION | |
1904 | ||
1905 | int pcre_dfa_exec(const pcre *code, const pcre_extra *extra, | |
1906 | const char *subject, int length, int startoffset, | |
1907 | int options, int *ovector, int ovecsize, | |
1908 | int *workspace, int wscount); | |
1909 | ||
1910 | The function pcre_dfa_exec() is called to match a subject string | |
1911 | against a compiled pattern, using a "DFA" matching algorithm. This has | |
1912 | different characteristics to the normal algorithm, and is not compati- | |
1913 | ble with Perl. Some of the features of PCRE patterns are not supported. | |
1914 | Nevertheless, there are times when this kind of matching can be useful. | |
1915 | For a discussion of the two matching algorithms, see the pcrematching | |
1916 | documentation. | |
1917 | ||
1918 | The arguments for the pcre_dfa_exec() function are the same as for | |
1919 | pcre_exec(), plus two extras. The ovector argument is used in a differ- | |
1920 | ent way, and this is described below. The other common arguments are | |
1921 | used in the same way as for pcre_exec(), so their description is not | |
1922 | repeated here. | |
1923 | ||
1924 | The two additional arguments provide workspace for the function. The | |
1925 | workspace vector should contain at least 20 elements. It is used for | |
1926 | keeping track of multiple paths through the pattern tree. More | |
1927 | workspace will be needed for patterns and subjects where there are a | |
1928 | lot of possible matches. | |
1929 | ||
1930 | Here is an example of a simple call to pcre_exec(): | |
1931 | ||
1932 | int rc; | |
1933 | int ovector[10]; | |
1934 | int wspace[20]; | |
1935 | rc = pcre_exec( | |
1936 | re, /* result of pcre_compile() */ | |
1937 | NULL, /* we didn't study the pattern */ | |
1938 | "some string", /* the subject string */ | |
1939 | 11, /* the length of the subject string */ | |
1940 | 0, /* start at offset 0 in the subject */ | |
1941 | 0, /* default options */ | |
1942 | ovector, /* vector of integers for substring information */ | |
1943 | 10, /* number of elements (NOT size in bytes) */ | |
1944 | wspace, /* working space vector */ | |
1945 | 20); /* number of elements (NOT size in bytes) */ | |
1946 | ||
1947 | Option bits for pcre_dfa_exec() | |
1948 | ||
1949 | The unused bits of the options argument for pcre_dfa_exec() must be | |
1950 | zero. The only bits that may be set are PCRE_ANCHORED, PCRE_NOTBOL, | |
1951 | PCRE_NOTEOL, PCRE_NOTEMPTY, PCRE_NO_UTF8_CHECK, PCRE_PARTIAL, | |
1952 | PCRE_DFA_SHORTEST, and PCRE_DFA_RESTART. All but the last three of | |
1953 | these are the same as for pcre_exec(), so their description is not | |
1954 | repeated here. | |
1955 | ||
1956 | PCRE_PARTIAL | |
1957 | ||
1958 | This has the same general effect as it does for pcre_exec(), but the | |
1959 | details are slightly different. When PCRE_PARTIAL is set for | |
1960 | pcre_dfa_exec(), the return code PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH is converted into | |
1961 | PCRE_ERROR_PARTIAL if the end of the subject is reached, there have | |
1962 | been no complete matches, but there is still at least one matching pos- | |
1963 | sibility. The portion of the string that provided the partial match is | |
1964 | set as the first matching string. | |
1965 | ||
1966 | PCRE_DFA_SHORTEST | |
1967 | ||
1968 | Setting the PCRE_DFA_SHORTEST option causes the matching algorithm to | |
1969 | stop as soon as it has found one match. Because of the way the DFA | |
1970 | algorithm works, this is necessarily the shortest possible match at the | |
1971 | first possible matching point in the subject string. | |
1972 | ||
1973 | PCRE_DFA_RESTART | |
1974 | ||
1975 | When pcre_dfa_exec() is called with the PCRE_PARTIAL option, and | |
1976 | returns a partial match, it is possible to call it again, with addi- | |
1977 | tional subject characters, and have it continue with the same match. | |
1978 | The PCRE_DFA_RESTART option requests this action; when it is set, the | |
1979 | workspace and wscount options must reference the same vector as before | |
1980 | because data about the match so far is left in them after a partial | |
1981 | match. There is more discussion of this facility in the pcrepartial | |
1982 | documentation. | |
1983 | ||
1984 | Successful returns from pcre_dfa_exec() | |
1985 | ||
1986 | When pcre_dfa_exec() succeeds, it may have matched more than one sub- | |
1987 | string in the subject. Note, however, that all the matches from one run | |
1988 | of the function start at the same point in the subject. The shorter | |
1989 | matches are all initial substrings of the longer matches. For example, | |
1990 | if the pattern | |
1991 | ||
1992 | <.*> | |
1993 | ||
1994 | is matched against the string | |
1995 | ||
1996 | This is <something> <something else> <something further> no more | |
1997 | ||
1998 | the three matched strings are | |
1999 | ||
2000 | <something> | |
2001 | <something> <something else> | |
2002 | <something> <something else> <something further> | |
2003 | ||
2004 | On success, the yield of the function is a number greater than zero, | |
2005 | which is the number of matched substrings. The substrings themselves | |
2006 | are returned in ovector. Each string uses two elements; the first is | |
2007 | the offset to the start, and the second is the offset to the end. All | |
2008 | the strings have the same start offset. (Space could have been saved by | |
2009 | giving this only once, but it was decided to retain some compatibility | |
2010 | with the way pcre_exec() returns data, even though the meaning of the | |
2011 | strings is different.) | |
2012 | ||
2013 | The strings are returned in reverse order of length; that is, the long- | |
2014 | est matching string is given first. If there were too many matches to | |
2015 | fit into ovector, the yield of the function is zero, and the vector is | |
2016 | filled with the longest matches. | |
2017 | ||
2018 | Error returns from pcre_dfa_exec() | |
2019 | ||
2020 | The pcre_dfa_exec() function returns a negative number when it fails. | |
2021 | Many of the errors are the same as for pcre_exec(), and these are | |
2022 | described above. There are in addition the following errors that are | |
2023 | specific to pcre_dfa_exec(): | |
2024 | ||
2025 | PCRE_ERROR_DFA_UITEM (-16) | |
2026 | ||
2027 | This return is given if pcre_dfa_exec() encounters an item in the pat- | |
2028 | tern that it does not support, for instance, the use of \C or a back | |
2029 | reference. | |
2030 | ||
2031 | PCRE_ERROR_DFA_UCOND (-17) | |
2032 | ||
2033 | This return is given if pcre_dfa_exec() encounters a condition item in | |
2034 | a pattern that uses a back reference for the condition. This is not | |
2035 | supported. | |
2036 | ||
2037 | PCRE_ERROR_DFA_UMLIMIT (-18) | |
2038 | ||
2039 | This return is given if pcre_dfa_exec() is called with an extra block | |
2040 | that contains a setting of the match_limit field. This is not supported | |
2041 | (it is meaningless). | |
2042 | ||
2043 | PCRE_ERROR_DFA_WSSIZE (-19) | |
2044 | ||
2045 | This return is given if pcre_dfa_exec() runs out of space in the | |
2046 | workspace vector. | |
2047 | ||
2048 | PCRE_ERROR_DFA_RECURSE (-20) | |
2049 | ||
2050 | When a recursive subpattern is processed, the matching function calls | |
2051 | itself recursively, using private vectors for ovector and workspace. | |
2052 | This error is given if the output vector is not large enough. This | |
2053 | should be extremely rare, as a vector of size 1000 is used. | |
2054 | ||
2055 | Last updated: 16 May 2005 | |
2056 | Copyright (c) 1997-2005 University of Cambridge. | |
2057 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | |
2058 | ||
2059 | ||
2060 | PCRECALLOUT(3) PCRECALLOUT(3) | |
2061 | ||
2062 | ||
2063 | NAME | NAME |
2064 | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions |
2065 | ||
2066 | ||
2067 | PCRE CALLOUTS | PCRE CALLOUTS |
2068 | ||
2069 | int (*pcre_callout)(pcre_callout_block *); | int (*pcre_callout)(pcre_callout_block *); |
# | Line 1606 MISSING CALLOUTS | Line 2118 MISSING CALLOUTS |
2118 | THE CALLOUT INTERFACE | THE CALLOUT INTERFACE |
2119 | ||
2120 | During matching, when PCRE reaches a callout point, the external func- | During matching, when PCRE reaches a callout point, the external func- |
2121 | tion defined by pcre_callout is called (if it is set). The only argu- | tion defined by pcre_callout is called (if it is set). This applies to |
2122 | ment is a pointer to a pcre_callout block. This structure contains the | both the pcre_exec() and the pcre_dfa_exec() matching functions. The |
2123 | following fields: | only argument to the callout function is a pointer to a pcre_callout |
2124 | block. This structure contains the following fields: | |
2125 | ||
2126 | int version; | int version; |
2127 | int callout_number; | int callout_number; |
# | Line 1623 THE CALLOUT INTERFACE | Line 2136 THE CALLOUT INTERFACE |
2136 | int pattern_position; | int pattern_position; |
2137 | int next_item_length; | int next_item_length; |
2138 | ||
2139 | The version field is an integer containing the version number of the | The version field is an integer containing the version number of the |
2140 | block format. The initial version was 0; the current version is 1. The | block format. The initial version was 0; the current version is 1. The |
2141 | version number will change again in future if additional fields are | version number will change again in future if additional fields are |
2142 | added, but the intention is never to remove any of the existing fields. | added, but the intention is never to remove any of the existing fields. |
2143 | ||
2144 | The callout_number field contains the number of the callout, as com- | The callout_number field contains the number of the callout, as com- |
2145 | piled into the pattern (that is, the number after ?C for manual call- | piled into the pattern (that is, the number after ?C for manual call- |
2146 | outs, and 255 for automatically generated callouts). | outs, and 255 for automatically generated callouts). |
2147 | ||
2148 | The offset_vector field is a pointer to the vector of offsets that was | The offset_vector field is a pointer to the vector of offsets that was |
2149 | passed by the caller to pcre_exec(). The contents can be inspected in | passed by the caller to pcre_exec() or pcre_dfa_exec(). When |
2150 | order to extract substrings that have been matched so far, in the same | pcre_exec() is used, the contents can be inspected in order to extract |
2151 | way as for extracting substrings after a match has completed. | substrings that have been matched so far, in the same way as for |
2152 | extracting substrings after a match has completed. For pcre_dfa_exec() | |
2153 | this field is not useful. | |
2154 | ||
2155 | The subject and subject_length fields contain copies of the values that | The subject and subject_length fields contain copies of the values that |
2156 | were passed to pcre_exec(). | were passed to pcre_exec(). |
2157 | ||
2158 | The start_match field contains the offset within the subject at which | The start_match field contains the offset within the subject at which |
2159 | the current match attempt started. If the pattern is not anchored, the | the current match attempt started. If the pattern is not anchored, the |
2160 | callout function may be called several times from the same point in the | callout function may be called several times from the same point in the |
2161 | pattern for different starting points in the subject. | pattern for different starting points in the subject. |
2162 | ||
2163 | The current_position field contains the offset within the subject of | The current_position field contains the offset within the subject of |
2164 | the current match pointer. | the current match pointer. |
2165 | ||
2166 | The capture_top field contains one more than the number of the highest | When the pcre_exec() function is used, the capture_top field contains |
2167 | numbered captured substring so far. If no substrings have been cap- | one more than the number of the highest numbered captured substring so |
2168 | tured, the value of capture_top is one. | far. If no substrings have been captured, the value of capture_top is |
2169 | one. This is always the case when pcre_dfa_exec() is used, because it | |
2170 | The capture_last field contains the number of the most recently cap- | does not support captured substrings. |
2171 | tured substring. If no substrings have been captured, its value is -1. | |
2172 | The capture_last field contains the number of the most recently cap- | |
2173 | The callout_data field contains a value that is passed to pcre_exec() | tured substring. If no substrings have been captured, its value is -1. |
2174 | by the caller specifically so that it can be passed back in callouts. | This is always the case when pcre_dfa_exec() is used. |
2175 | It is passed in the pcre_callout field of the pcre_extra data struc- | |
2176 | ture. If no such data was passed, the value of callout_data in a | The callout_data field contains a value that is passed to pcre_exec() |
2177 | pcre_callout block is NULL. There is a description of the pcre_extra | or pcre_dfa_exec() specifically so that it can be passed back in call- |
2178 | outs. It is passed in the pcre_callout field of the pcre_extra data | |
2179 | structure. If no such data was passed, the value of callout_data in a | |
2180 | pcre_callout block is NULL. There is a description of the pcre_extra | |
2181 | structure in the pcreapi documentation. | structure in the pcreapi documentation. |
2182 | ||
2183 | The pattern_position field is present from version 1 of the pcre_call- | The pattern_position field is present from version 1 of the pcre_call- |
2184 | out structure. It contains the offset to the next item to be matched in | out structure. It contains the offset to the next item to be matched in |
2185 | the pattern string. | the pattern string. |
2186 | ||
2187 | The next_item_length field is present from version 1 of the pcre_call- | The next_item_length field is present from version 1 of the pcre_call- |
2188 | out structure. It contains the length of the next item to be matched in | out structure. It contains the length of the next item to be matched in |
2189 | the pattern string. When the callout immediately precedes an alterna- | the pattern string. When the callout immediately precedes an alterna- |
2190 | tion bar, a closing parenthesis, or the end of the pattern, the length | tion bar, a closing parenthesis, or the end of the pattern, the length |
2191 | is zero. When the callout precedes an opening parenthesis, the length | is zero. When the callout precedes an opening parenthesis, the length |
2192 | is that of the entire subpattern. | is that of the entire subpattern. |
2193 | ||
2194 | The pattern_position and next_item_length fields are intended to help | The pattern_position and next_item_length fields are intended to help |
2195 | in distinguishing between different automatic callouts, which all have | in distinguishing between different automatic callouts, which all have |
2196 | the same callout number. However, they are set for all callouts. | the same callout number. However, they are set for all callouts. |
2197 | ||
2198 | ||
2199 | RETURN VALUES | RETURN VALUES |
2200 | ||
2201 | The external callout function returns an integer to PCRE. If the value | The external callout function returns an integer to PCRE. If the value |
2202 | is zero, matching proceeds as normal. If the value is greater than | is zero, matching proceeds as normal. If the value is greater than |
2203 | zero, matching fails at the current point, but backtracking to test | zero, matching fails at the current point, but the testing of other |
2204 | other matching possibilities goes ahead, just as if a lookahead asser- | matching possibilities goes ahead, just as if a lookahead assertion had |
2205 | tion had failed. If the value is less than zero, the match is aban- | failed. If the value is less than zero, the match is abandoned, and |
2206 | doned, and pcre_exec() returns the negative value. | pcre_exec() (or pcre_dfa_exec()) returns the negative value. |
2207 | ||
2208 | Negative values should normally be chosen from the set of | Negative values should normally be chosen from the set of |
2209 | PCRE_ERROR_xxx values. In particular, PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH forces a stan- | PCRE_ERROR_xxx values. In particular, PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH forces a stan- |
2210 | dard "no match" failure. The error number PCRE_ERROR_CALLOUT is | dard "no match" failure. The error number PCRE_ERROR_CALLOUT is |
2211 | reserved for use by callout functions; it will never be used by PCRE | reserved for use by callout functions; it will never be used by PCRE |
2212 | itself. | itself. |
2213 | ||
2214 | Last updated: 09 September 2004 | Last updated: 28 February 2005 |
2215 | Copyright (c) 1997-2004 University of Cambridge. | Copyright (c) 1997-2005 University of Cambridge. |
2216 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
2217 | ||
PCRE(3) PCRE(3) | ||
2218 | ||
2219 | PCRECOMPAT(3) PCRECOMPAT(3) | |
2220 | ||
2221 | ||
2222 | NAME | NAME |
2223 | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions |
2224 | ||
2225 | ||
2226 | DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PCRE AND PERL | DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PCRE AND PERL |
2227 | ||
2228 | This document describes the differences in the ways that PCRE and Perl | This document describes the differences in the ways that PCRE and Perl |
# | Line 1808 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PCRE AND PERL | Line 2327 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PCRE AND PERL |
2327 | (m) Patterns compiled by PCRE can be saved and re-used at a later time, | (m) Patterns compiled by PCRE can be saved and re-used at a later time, |
2328 | even on different hosts that have the other endianness. | even on different hosts that have the other endianness. |
2329 | ||
2330 | Last updated: 09 September 2004 | (n) The alternative matching function (pcre_dfa_exec()) matches in a |
2331 | Copyright (c) 1997-2004 University of Cambridge. | different way and is not Perl-compatible. |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
2332 | ||
2333 | PCRE(3) PCRE(3) | Last updated: 28 February 2005 |
2334 | Copyright (c) 1997-2005 University of Cambridge. | |
2335 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | |
2336 | ||
2337 | ||
2338 | PCREPATTERN(3) PCREPATTERN(3) | |
2339 | ||
2340 | ||
2341 | NAME | NAME |
2342 | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions |
2343 | ||
2344 | ||
2345 | PCRE REGULAR EXPRESSION DETAILS | PCRE REGULAR EXPRESSION DETAILS |
2346 | ||
2347 | The syntax and semantics of the regular expressions supported by PCRE | The syntax and semantics of the regular expressions supported by PCRE |
# | Line 1836 PCRE REGULAR EXPRESSION DETAILS | Line 2359 PCRE REGULAR EXPRESSION DETAILS |
2359 | of UTF-8 features in the section on UTF-8 support in the main pcre | of UTF-8 features in the section on UTF-8 support in the main pcre |
2360 | page. | page. |
2361 | ||
2362 | The remainder of this document discusses the patterns that are sup- | |
2363 | ported by PCRE when its main matching function, pcre_exec(), is used. | |
2364 | From release 6.0, PCRE offers a second matching function, | |
2365 | pcre_dfa_exec(), which matches using a different algorithm that is not | |
2366 | Perl-compatible. The advantages and disadvantages of the alternative | |
2367 | function, and how it differs from the normal function, are discussed in | |
2368 | the pcrematching page. | |
2369 | ||
2370 | A regular expression is a pattern that is matched against a subject | A regular expression is a pattern that is matched against a subject |
2371 | string from left to right. Most characters stand for themselves in a | string from left to right. Most characters stand for themselves in a |
2372 | pattern, and match the corresponding characters in the subject. As a | pattern, and match the corresponding characters in the subject. As a |
# | Line 1843 PCRE REGULAR EXPRESSION DETAILS | Line 2374 PCRE REGULAR EXPRESSION DETAILS |
2374 | ||
2375 | The quick brown fox | The quick brown fox |
2376 | ||
2377 | matches a portion of a subject string that is identical to itself. The | matches a portion of a subject string that is identical to itself. When |
2378 | power of regular expressions comes from the ability to include alterna- | caseless matching is specified (the PCRE_CASELESS option), letters are |
2379 | tives and repetitions in the pattern. These are encoded in the pattern | matched independently of case. In UTF-8 mode, PCRE always understands |
2380 | by the use of metacharacters, which do not stand for themselves but | the concept of case for characters whose values are less than 128, so |
2381 | instead are interpreted in some special way. | caseless matching is always possible. For characters with higher val- |
2382 | ues, the concept of case is supported if PCRE is compiled with Unicode | |
2383 | There are two different sets of metacharacters: those that are recog- | property support, but not otherwise. If you want to use caseless |
2384 | nized anywhere in the pattern except within square brackets, and those | matching for characters 128 and above, you must ensure that PCRE is |
2385 | that are recognized in square brackets. Outside square brackets, the | compiled with Unicode property support as well as with UTF-8 support. |
2386 | ||
2387 | The power of regular expressions comes from the ability to include | |
2388 | alternatives and repetitions in the pattern. These are encoded in the | |
2389 | pattern by the use of metacharacters, which do not stand for themselves | |
2390 | but instead are interpreted in some special way. | |
2391 | ||
2392 | There are two different sets of metacharacters: those that are recog- | |
2393 | nized anywhere in the pattern except within square brackets, and those | |
2394 | that are recognized in square brackets. Outside square brackets, the | |
2395 | metacharacters are as follows: | metacharacters are as follows: |
2396 | ||
2397 | \ general escape character with several uses | \ general escape character with several uses |
# | Line 1870 PCRE REGULAR EXPRESSION DETAILS | Line 2410 PCRE REGULAR EXPRESSION DETAILS |
2410 | also "possessive quantifier" | also "possessive quantifier" |
2411 | { start min/max quantifier | { start min/max quantifier |
2412 | ||
2413 | Part of a pattern that is in square brackets is called a "character | Part of a pattern that is in square brackets is called a "character |
2414 | class". In a character class the only metacharacters are: | class". In a character class the only metacharacters are: |
2415 | ||
2416 | \ general escape character | \ general escape character |
# | Line 1880 PCRE REGULAR EXPRESSION DETAILS | Line 2420 PCRE REGULAR EXPRESSION DETAILS |
2420 | syntax) | syntax) |
2421 | ] terminates the character class | ] terminates the character class |
2422 | ||
2423 | The following sections describe the use of each of the metacharacters. | The following sections describe the use of each of the metacharacters. |
2424 | ||
2425 | ||
2426 | BACKSLASH | BACKSLASH |
2427 | ||
2428 | The backslash character has several uses. Firstly, if it is followed by | The backslash character has several uses. Firstly, if it is followed by |
2429 | a non-alphanumeric character, it takes away any special meaning that | a non-alphanumeric character, it takes away any special meaning that |
2430 | character may have. This use of backslash as an escape character | character may have. This use of backslash as an escape character |
2431 | applies both inside and outside character classes. | applies both inside and outside character classes. |
2432 | ||
2433 | For example, if you want to match a * character, you write \* in the | For example, if you want to match a * character, you write \* in the |
2434 | pattern. This escaping action applies whether or not the following | pattern. This escaping action applies whether or not the following |
2435 | character would otherwise be interpreted as a metacharacter, so it is | character would otherwise be interpreted as a metacharacter, so it is |
2436 | always safe to precede a non-alphanumeric with backslash to specify | always safe to precede a non-alphanumeric with backslash to specify |
2437 | that it stands for itself. In particular, if you want to match a back- | that it stands for itself. In particular, if you want to match a back- |
2438 | slash, you write \\. | slash, you write \\. |
2439 | ||
2440 | If a pattern is compiled with the PCRE_EXTENDED option, whitespace in | If a pattern is compiled with the PCRE_EXTENDED option, whitespace in |
2441 | the pattern (other than in a character class) and characters between a | the pattern (other than in a character class) and characters between a |
2442 | # outside a character class and the next newline character are ignored. | # outside a character class and the next newline character are ignored. |
2443 | An escaping backslash can be used to include a whitespace or # charac- | An escaping backslash can be used to include a whitespace or # charac- |
2444 | ter as part of the pattern. | ter as part of the pattern. |
2445 | ||
2446 | If you want to remove the special meaning from a sequence of charac- | If you want to remove the special meaning from a sequence of charac- |
2447 | ters, you can do so by putting them between \Q and \E. This is differ- | ters, you can do so by putting them between \Q and \E. This is differ- |
2448 | ent from Perl in that $ and @ are handled as literals in \Q...\E | ent from Perl in that $ and @ are handled as literals in \Q...\E |
2449 | sequences in PCRE, whereas in Perl, $ and @ cause variable interpola- | sequences in PCRE, whereas in Perl, $ and @ cause variable interpola- |
2450 | tion. Note the following examples: | tion. Note the following examples: |
2451 | ||
2452 | Pattern PCRE matches Perl matches | Pattern PCRE matches Perl matches |
# | Line 1916 BACKSLASH | Line 2456 BACKSLASH |
2456 | \Qabc\$xyz\E abc\$xyz abc\$xyz | \Qabc\$xyz\E abc\$xyz abc\$xyz |
2457 | \Qabc\E\$\Qxyz\E abc$xyz abc$xyz | \Qabc\E\$\Qxyz\E abc$xyz abc$xyz |
2458 | ||
2459 | The \Q...\E sequence is recognized both inside and outside character | The \Q...\E sequence is recognized both inside and outside character |
2460 | classes. | classes. |
2461 | ||
2462 | Non-printing characters | Non-printing characters |
2463 | ||
2464 | A second use of backslash provides a way of encoding non-printing char- | A second use of backslash provides a way of encoding non-printing char- |
2465 | acters in patterns in a visible manner. There is no restriction on the | acters in patterns in a visible manner. There is no restriction on the |
2466 | appearance of non-printing characters, apart from the binary zero that | appearance of non-printing characters, apart from the binary zero that |
2467 | terminates a pattern, but when a pattern is being prepared by text | terminates a pattern, but when a pattern is being prepared by text |
2468 | editing, it is usually easier to use one of the following escape | editing, it is usually easier to use one of the following escape |
2469 | sequences than the binary character it represents: | sequences than the binary character it represents: |
2470 | ||
2471 | \a alarm, that is, the BEL character (hex 07) | \a alarm, that is, the BEL character (hex 07) |
# | Line 1939 BACKSLASH | Line 2479 BACKSLASH |
2479 | \xhh character with hex code hh | \xhh character with hex code hh |
2480 | \x{hhh..} character with hex code hhh... (UTF-8 mode only) | \x{hhh..} character with hex code hhh... (UTF-8 mode only) |
2481 | ||
2482 | The precise effect of \cx is as follows: if x is a lower case letter, | The precise effect of \cx is as follows: if x is a lower case letter, |
2483 | it is converted to upper case. Then bit 6 of the character (hex 40) is | it is converted to upper case. Then bit 6 of the character (hex 40) is |
2484 | inverted. Thus \cz becomes hex 1A, but \c{ becomes hex 3B, while \c; | inverted. Thus \cz becomes hex 1A, but \c{ becomes hex 3B, while \c; |
2485 | becomes hex 7B. | becomes hex 7B. |
2486 | ||
2487 | After \x, from zero to two hexadecimal digits are read (letters can be | After \x, from zero to two hexadecimal digits are read (letters can be |
2488 | in upper or lower case). In UTF-8 mode, any number of hexadecimal dig- | in upper or lower case). In UTF-8 mode, any number of hexadecimal dig- |
2489 | its may appear between \x{ and }, but the value of the character code | its may appear between \x{ and }, but the value of the character code |
2490 | must be less than 2**31 (that is, the maximum hexadecimal value is | must be less than 2**31 (that is, the maximum hexadecimal value is |
2491 | 7FFFFFFF). If characters other than hexadecimal digits appear between | 7FFFFFFF). If characters other than hexadecimal digits appear between |
2492 | \x{ and }, or if there is no terminating }, this form of escape is not | \x{ and }, or if there is no terminating }, this form of escape is not |
2493 | recognized. Instead, the initial \x will be interpreted as a basic hex- | recognized. Instead, the initial \x will be interpreted as a basic |
2494 | adecimal escape, with no following digits, giving a character whose | hexadecimal escape, with no following digits, giving a character whose |
2495 | value is zero. | value is zero. |
2496 | ||
2497 | Characters whose value is less than 256 can be defined by either of the | Characters whose value is less than 256 can be defined by either of the |
2498 | two syntaxes for \x when PCRE is in UTF-8 mode. There is no difference | two syntaxes for \x when PCRE is in UTF-8 mode. There is no difference |
2499 | in the way they are handled. For example, \xdc is exactly the same as | in the way they are handled. For example, \xdc is exactly the same as |
2500 | \x{dc}. | \x{dc}. |
2501 | ||
2502 | After \0 up to two further octal digits are read. In both cases, if | After \0 up to two further octal digits are read. In both cases, if |
2503 | there are fewer than two digits, just those that are present are used. | there are fewer than two digits, just those that are present are used. |
2504 | Thus the sequence \0\x\07 specifies two binary zeros followed by a BEL | Thus the sequence \0\x\07 specifies two binary zeros followed by a BEL |
2505 | character (code value 7). Make sure you supply two digits after the | character (code value 7). Make sure you supply two digits after the |
2506 | initial zero if the pattern character that follows is itself an octal | initial zero if the pattern character that follows is itself an octal |
2507 | digit. | digit. |
2508 | ||
2509 | The handling of a backslash followed by a digit other than 0 is compli- | The handling of a backslash followed by a digit other than 0 is compli- |
2510 | cated. Outside a character class, PCRE reads it and any following dig- | cated. Outside a character class, PCRE reads it and any following dig- |
2511 | its as a decimal number. If the number is less than 10, or if there | its as a decimal number. If the number is less than 10, or if there |
2512 | have been at least that many previous capturing left parentheses in the | have been at least that many previous capturing left parentheses in the |
2513 | expression, the entire sequence is taken as a back reference. A | expression, the entire sequence is taken as a back reference. A |
2514 | description of how this works is given later, following the discussion | description of how this works is given later, following the discussion |
2515 | of parenthesized subpatterns. | of parenthesized subpatterns. |
2516 | ||
2517 | Inside a character class, or if the decimal number is greater than 9 | Inside a character class, or if the decimal number is greater than 9 |
2518 | and there have not been that many capturing subpatterns, PCRE re-reads | and there have not been that many capturing subpatterns, PCRE re-reads |
2519 | up to three octal digits following the backslash, and generates a sin- | up to three octal digits following the backslash, and generates a sin- |
2520 | gle byte from the least significant 8 bits of the value. Any subsequent | gle byte from the least significant 8 bits of the value. Any subsequent |
2521 | digits stand for themselves. For example: | digits stand for themselves. For example: |
2522 | ||
# | Line 1995 BACKSLASH | Line 2535 BACKSLASH |
2535 | \81 is either a back reference, or a binary zero | \81 is either a back reference, or a binary zero |
2536 | followed by the two characters "8" and "1" | followed by the two characters "8" and "1" |
2537 | ||
2538 | Note that octal values of 100 or greater must not be introduced by a | Note that octal values of 100 or greater must not be introduced by a |
2539 | leading zero, because no more than three octal digits are ever read. | leading zero, because no more than three octal digits are ever read. |
2540 | ||
2541 | All the sequences that define a single byte value or a single UTF-8 | All the sequences that define a single byte value or a single UTF-8 |
2542 | character (in UTF-8 mode) can be used both inside and outside character | character (in UTF-8 mode) can be used both inside and outside character |
2543 | classes. In addition, inside a character class, the sequence \b is | classes. In addition, inside a character class, the sequence \b is |
2544 | interpreted as the backspace character (hex 08), and the sequence \X is | interpreted as the backspace character (hex 08), and the sequence \X is |
2545 | interpreted as the character "X". Outside a character class, these | interpreted as the character "X". Outside a character class, these |
2546 | sequences have different meanings (see below). | sequences have different meanings (see below). |
2547 | ||
2548 | Generic character types | Generic character types |
2549 | ||
2550 | The third use of backslash is for specifying generic character types. | The third use of backslash is for specifying generic character types. |
2551 | The following are always recognized: | The following are always recognized: |
2552 | ||
2553 | \d any decimal digit | \d any decimal digit |
# | Line 2018 BACKSLASH | Line 2558 BACKSLASH |
2558 | \W any "non-word" character | \W any "non-word" character |
2559 | ||
2560 | Each pair of escape sequences partitions the complete set of characters | Each pair of escape sequences partitions the complete set of characters |
2561 | into two disjoint sets. Any given character matches one, and only one, | into two disjoint sets. Any given character matches one, and only one, |
2562 | of each pair. | of each pair. |
2563 | ||
2564 | These character type sequences can appear both inside and outside char- | These character type sequences can appear both inside and outside char- |
2565 | acter classes. They each match one character of the appropriate type. | acter classes. They each match one character of the appropriate type. |
2566 | If the current matching point is at the end of the subject string, all | If the current matching point is at the end of the subject string, all |
2567 | of them fail, since there is no character to match. | of them fail, since there is no character to match. |
2568 | ||
2569 | For compatibility with Perl, \s does not match the VT character (code | For compatibility with Perl, \s does not match the VT character (code |
2570 | 11). This makes it different from the the POSIX "space" class. The \s | 11). This makes it different from the the POSIX "space" class. The \s |
2571 | characters are HT (9), LF (10), FF (12), CR (13), and space (32). | characters are HT (9), LF (10), FF (12), CR (13), and space (32). |
2572 | ||
2573 | A "word" character is an underscore or any character less than 256 that | A "word" character is an underscore or any character less than 256 that |
2574 | is a letter or digit. The definition of letters and digits is con- | is a letter or digit. The definition of letters and digits is con- |
2575 | trolled by PCRE's low-valued character tables, and may vary if locale- | trolled by PCRE's low-valued character tables, and may vary if locale- |
2576 | specific matching is taking place (see "Locale support" in the pcreapi | specific matching is taking place (see "Locale support" in the pcreapi |
2577 | page). For example, in the "fr_FR" (French) locale, some character | page). For example, in the "fr_FR" (French) locale, some character |
2578 | codes greater than 128 are used for accented letters, and these are | codes greater than 128 are used for accented letters, and these are |
2579 | matched by \w. | matched by \w. |
2580 | ||
2581 | In UTF-8 mode, characters with values greater than 128 never match \d, | In UTF-8 mode, characters with values greater than 128 never match \d, |
2582 | \s, or \w, and always match \D, \S, and \W. This is true even when Uni- | \s, or \w, and always match \D, \S, and \W. This is true even when Uni- |
2583 | code character property support is available. | code character property support is available. |
2584 | ||
2585 | Unicode character properties | Unicode character properties |
2586 | ||
2587 | When PCRE is built with Unicode character property support, three addi- | When PCRE is built with Unicode character property support, three addi- |
2588 | tional escape sequences to match generic character types are available | tional escape sequences to match generic character types are available |
2589 | when UTF-8 mode is selected. They are: | when UTF-8 mode is selected. They are: |
2590 | ||
2591 | \p{xx} a character with the xx property | \p{xx} a character with the xx property |
2592 | \P{xx} a character without the xx property | \P{xx} a character without the xx property |
2593 | \X an extended Unicode sequence | \X an extended Unicode sequence |
2594 | ||
2595 | The property names represented by xx above are limited to the Unicode | The property names represented by xx above are limited to the Unicode |
2596 | general category properties. Each character has exactly one such prop- | general category properties. Each character has exactly one such prop- |
2597 | erty, specified by a two-letter abbreviation. For compatibility with | erty, specified by a two-letter abbreviation. For compatibility with |
2598 | Perl, negation can be specified by including a circumflex between the | Perl, negation can be specified by including a circumflex between the |
2599 | opening brace and the property name. For example, \p{^Lu} is the same | opening brace and the property name. For example, \p{^Lu} is the same |
2600 | as \P{Lu}. | as \P{Lu}. |
2601 | ||
2602 | If only one letter is specified with \p or \P, it includes all the | If only one letter is specified with \p or \P, it includes all the |
2603 | properties that start with that letter. In this case, in the absence of | properties that start with that letter. In this case, in the absence of |
2604 | negation, the curly brackets in the escape sequence are optional; these | negation, the curly brackets in the escape sequence are optional; these |
2605 | two examples have the same effect: | two examples have the same effect: |
# | Line 2113 BACKSLASH | Line 2653 BACKSLASH |
2653 | Zp Paragraph separator | Zp Paragraph separator |
2654 | Zs Space separator | Zs Space separator |
2655 | ||
2656 | Extended properties such as "Greek" or "InMusicalSymbols" are not sup- | Extended properties such as "Greek" or "InMusicalSymbols" are not sup- |
2657 | ported by PCRE. | ported by PCRE. |
2658 | ||
2659 | Specifying caseless matching does not affect these escape sequences. | Specifying caseless matching does not affect these escape sequences. |
2660 | For example, \p{Lu} always matches only upper case letters. | For example, \p{Lu} always matches only upper case letters. |
2661 | ||
2662 | The \X escape matches any number of Unicode characters that form an | The \X escape matches any number of Unicode characters that form an |
2663 | extended Unicode sequence. \X is equivalent to | extended Unicode sequence. \X is equivalent to |
2664 | ||
2665 | (?>\PM\pM*) | (?>\PM\pM*) |
2666 | ||
2667 | That is, it matches a character without the "mark" property, followed | That is, it matches a character without the "mark" property, followed |
2668 | by zero or more characters with the "mark" property, and treats the | by zero or more characters with the "mark" property, and treats the |
2669 | sequence as an atomic group (see below). Characters with the "mark" | sequence as an atomic group (see below). Characters with the "mark" |
2670 | property are typically accents that affect the preceding character. | property are typically accents that affect the preceding character. |
2671 | ||
2672 | Matching characters by Unicode property is not fast, because PCRE has | Matching characters by Unicode property is not fast, because PCRE has |
2673 | to search a structure that contains data for over fifteen thousand | to search a structure that contains data for over fifteen thousand |
2674 | characters. That is why the traditional escape sequences such as \d and | characters. That is why the traditional escape sequences such as \d and |
2675 | \w do not use Unicode properties in PCRE. | \w do not use Unicode properties in PCRE. |
2676 | ||
2677 | Simple assertions | Simple assertions |
2678 | ||
2679 | The fourth use of backslash is for certain simple assertions. An asser- | The fourth use of backslash is for certain simple assertions. An asser- |
2680 | tion specifies a condition that has to be met at a particular point in | tion specifies a condition that has to be met at a particular point in |
2681 | a match, without consuming any characters from the subject string. The | a match, without consuming any characters from the subject string. The |
2682 | use of subpatterns for more complicated assertions is described below. | use of subpatterns for more complicated assertions is described below. |
2683 | The backslashed assertions are: | The backslashed assertions are: |
2684 | ||
2685 | \b matches at a word boundary | \b matches at a word boundary |
# | Line 2149 BACKSLASH | Line 2689 BACKSLASH |
2689 | \z matches at end of subject | \z matches at end of subject |
2690 | \G matches at first matching position in subject | \G matches at first matching position in subject |
2691 | ||
2692 | These assertions may not appear in character classes (but note that \b | These assertions may not appear in character classes (but note that \b |
2693 | has a different meaning, namely the backspace character, inside a char- | has a different meaning, namely the backspace character, inside a char- |
2694 | acter class). | acter class). |
2695 | ||
2696 | A word boundary is a position in the subject string where the current | A word boundary is a position in the subject string where the current |
2697 | character and the previous character do not both match \w or \W (i.e. | character and the previous character do not both match \w or \W (i.e. |
2698 | one matches \w and the other matches \W), or the start or end of the | one matches \w and the other matches \W), or the start or end of the |
2699 | string if the first or last character matches \w, respectively. | string if the first or last character matches \w, respectively. |
2700 | ||
2701 | The \A, \Z, and \z assertions differ from the traditional circumflex | The \A, \Z, and \z assertions differ from the traditional circumflex |
2702 | and dollar (described in the next section) in that they only ever match | and dollar (described in the next section) in that they only ever match |
2703 | at the very start and end of the subject string, whatever options are | at the very start and end of the subject string, whatever options are |
2704 | set. Thus, they are independent of multiline mode. These three asser- | set. Thus, they are independent of multiline mode. These three asser- |
2705 | tions are not affected by the PCRE_NOTBOL or PCRE_NOTEOL options, which | tions are not affected by the PCRE_NOTBOL or PCRE_NOTEOL options, which |
2706 | affect only the behaviour of the circumflex and dollar metacharacters. | affect only the behaviour of the circumflex and dollar metacharacters. |
2707 | However, if the startoffset argument of pcre_exec() is non-zero, indi- | However, if the startoffset argument of pcre_exec() is non-zero, indi- |
2708 | cating that matching is to start at a point other than the beginning of | cating that matching is to start at a point other than the beginning of |
2709 | the subject, \A can never match. The difference between \Z and \z is | the subject, \A can never match. The difference between \Z and \z is |
2710 | that \Z matches before a newline that is the last character of the | that \Z matches before a newline that is the last character of the |
2711 | string as well as at the end of the string, whereas \z matches only at | string as well as at the end of the string, whereas \z matches only at |
2712 | the end. | the end. |
2713 | ||
2714 | The \G assertion is true only when the current matching position is at | The \G assertion is true only when the current matching position is at |
2715 | the start point of the match, as specified by the startoffset argument | the start point of the match, as specified by the startoffset argument |
2716 | of pcre_exec(). It differs from \A when the value of startoffset is | of pcre_exec(). It differs from \A when the value of startoffset is |
2717 | non-zero. By calling pcre_exec() multiple times with appropriate argu- | non-zero. By calling pcre_exec() multiple times with appropriate argu- |
2718 | ments, you can mimic Perl's /g option, and it is in this kind of imple- | ments, you can mimic Perl's /g option, and it is in this kind of imple- |
2719 | mentation where \G can be useful. | mentation where \G can be useful. |
2720 | ||
2721 | Note, however, that PCRE's interpretation of \G, as the start of the | Note, however, that PCRE's interpretation of \G, as the start of the |
2722 | current match, is subtly different from Perl's, which defines it as the | current match, is subtly different from Perl's, which defines it as the |
2723 | end of the previous match. In Perl, these can be different when the | end of the previous match. In Perl, these can be different when the |
2724 | previously matched string was empty. Because PCRE does just one match | previously matched string was empty. Because PCRE does just one match |
2725 | at a time, it cannot reproduce this behaviour. | at a time, it cannot reproduce this behaviour. |
2726 | ||
2727 | If all the alternatives of a pattern begin with \G, the expression is | If all the alternatives of a pattern begin with \G, the expression is |
2728 | anchored to the starting match position, and the "anchored" flag is set | anchored to the starting match position, and the "anchored" flag is set |
2729 | in the compiled regular expression. | in the compiled regular expression. |
2730 | ||
# | Line 2192 BACKSLASH | Line 2732 BACKSLASH |
2732 | CIRCUMFLEX AND DOLLAR | CIRCUMFLEX AND DOLLAR |
2733 | ||
2734 | Outside a character class, in the default matching mode, the circumflex | Outside a character class, in the default matching mode, the circumflex |
2735 | character is an assertion that is true only if the current matching | character is an assertion that is true only if the current matching |
2736 | point is at the start of the subject string. If the startoffset argu- | point is at the start of the subject string. If the startoffset argu- |
2737 | ment of pcre_exec() is non-zero, circumflex can never match if the | ment of pcre_exec() is non-zero, circumflex can never match if the |
2738 | PCRE_MULTILINE option is unset. Inside a character class, circumflex | PCRE_MULTILINE option is unset. Inside a character class, circumflex |
2739 | has an entirely different meaning (see below). | has an entirely different meaning (see below). |
2740 | ||
2741 | Circumflex need not be the first character of the pattern if a number | Circumflex need not be the first character of the pattern if a number |
2742 | of alternatives are involved, but it should be the first thing in each | of alternatives are involved, but it should be the first thing in each |
2743 | alternative in which it appears if the pattern is ever to match that | alternative in which it appears if the pattern is ever to match that |
2744 | branch. If all possible alternatives start with a circumflex, that is, | branch. If all possible alternatives start with a circumflex, that is, |
2745 | if the pattern is constrained to match only at the start of the sub- | if the pattern is constrained to match only at the start of the sub- |
2746 | ject, it is said to be an "anchored" pattern. (There are also other | ject, it is said to be an "anchored" pattern. (There are also other |
2747 | constructs that can cause a pattern to be anchored.) | constructs that can cause a pattern to be anchored.) |
2748 | ||
2749 | A dollar character is an assertion that is true only if the current | A dollar character is an assertion that is true only if the current |
2750 | matching point is at the end of the subject string, or immediately | matching point is at the end of the subject string, or immediately |
2751 | before a newline character that is the last character in the string (by | before a newline character that is the last character in the string (by |
2752 | default). Dollar need not be the last character of the pattern if a | default). Dollar need not be the last character of the pattern if a |
2753 | number of alternatives are involved, but it should be the last item in | number of alternatives are involved, but it should be the last item in |
2754 | any branch in which it appears. Dollar has no special meaning in a | any branch in which it appears. Dollar has no special meaning in a |
2755 | character class. | character class. |
2756 | ||
2757 | The meaning of dollar can be changed so that it matches only at the | The meaning of dollar can be changed so that it matches only at the |
2758 | very end of the string, by setting the PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY option at | very end of the string, by setting the PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY option at |
2759 | compile time. This does not affect the \Z assertion. | compile time. This does not affect the \Z assertion. |
2760 | ||
2761 | The meanings of the circumflex and dollar characters are changed if the | The meanings of the circumflex and dollar characters are changed if the |
2762 | PCRE_MULTILINE option is set. When this is the case, they match immedi- | PCRE_MULTILINE option is set. When this is the case, they match immedi- |
2763 | ately after and immediately before an internal newline character, | ately after and immediately before an internal newline character, |
2764 | respectively, in addition to matching at the start and end of the sub- | respectively, in addition to matching at the start and end of the sub- |
2765 | ject string. For example, the pattern /^abc$/ matches the subject | ject string. For example, the pattern /^abc$/ matches the subject |
2766 | string "def\nabc" (where \n represents a newline character) in multi- | string "def\nabc" (where \n represents a newline character) in multi- |
2767 | line mode, but not otherwise. Consequently, patterns that are anchored | line mode, but not otherwise. Consequently, patterns that are anchored |
2768 | in single line mode because all branches start with ^ are not anchored | in single line mode because all branches start with ^ are not anchored |
2769 | in multiline mode, and a match for circumflex is possible when the | in multiline mode, and a match for circumflex is possible when the |
2770 | startoffset argument of pcre_exec() is non-zero. The PCRE_DOL- | startoffset argument of pcre_exec() is non-zero. The PCRE_DOL- |
2771 | LAR_ENDONLY option is ignored if PCRE_MULTILINE is set. | LAR_ENDONLY option is ignored if PCRE_MULTILINE is set. |
2772 | ||
2773 | Note that the sequences \A, \Z, and \z can be used to match the start | Note that the sequences \A, \Z, and \z can be used to match the start |
2774 | and end of the subject in both modes, and if all branches of a pattern | and end of the subject in both modes, and if all branches of a pattern |
2775 | start with \A it is always anchored, whether PCRE_MULTILINE is set or | start with \A it is always anchored, whether PCRE_MULTILINE is set or |
2776 | not. | not. |
2777 | ||
2778 | ||
2779 | FULL STOP (PERIOD, DOT) | FULL STOP (PERIOD, DOT) |
2780 | ||
2781 | Outside a character class, a dot in the pattern matches any one charac- | Outside a character class, a dot in the pattern matches any one charac- |
2782 | ter in the subject, including a non-printing character, but not (by | ter in the subject, including a non-printing character, but not (by |
2783 | default) newline. In UTF-8 mode, a dot matches any UTF-8 character, | default) newline. In UTF-8 mode, a dot matches any UTF-8 character, |
2784 | which might be more than one byte long, except (by default) newline. If | which might be more than one byte long, except (by default) newline. If |
2785 | the PCRE_DOTALL option is set, dots match newlines as well. The han- | the PCRE_DOTALL option is set, dots match newlines as well. The han- |
2786 | dling of dot is entirely independent of the handling of circumflex and | dling of dot is entirely independent of the handling of circumflex and |
2787 | dollar, the only relationship being that they both involve newline | dollar, the only relationship being that they both involve newline |
2788 | characters. Dot has no special meaning in a character class. | characters. Dot has no special meaning in a character class. |
2789 | ||
2790 | ||
2791 | MATCHING A SINGLE BYTE | MATCHING A SINGLE BYTE |
2792 | ||
2793 | Outside a character class, the escape sequence \C matches any one byte, | Outside a character class, the escape sequence \C matches any one byte, |
2794 | both in and out of UTF-8 mode. Unlike a dot, it can match a newline. | both in and out of UTF-8 mode. Unlike a dot, it can match a newline. |
2795 | The feature is provided in Perl in order to match individual bytes in | The feature is provided in Perl in order to match individual bytes in |
2796 | UTF-8 mode. Because it breaks up UTF-8 characters into individual | UTF-8 mode. Because it breaks up UTF-8 characters into individual |
2797 | bytes, what remains in the string may be a malformed UTF-8 string. For | bytes, what remains in the string may be a malformed UTF-8 string. For |
2798 | this reason, the \C escape sequence is best avoided. | this reason, the \C escape sequence is best avoided. |
2799 | ||
2800 | PCRE does not allow \C to appear in lookbehind assertions (described | PCRE does not allow \C to appear in lookbehind assertions (described |
2801 | below), because in UTF-8 mode this would make it impossible to calcu- | below), because in UTF-8 mode this would make it impossible to calcu- |
2802 | late the length of the lookbehind. | late the length of the lookbehind. |
2803 | ||
2804 | ||
# | Line 2267 SQUARE BRACKETS AND CHARACTER CLASSES | Line 2807 SQUARE BRACKETS AND CHARACTER CLASSES |
2807 | An opening square bracket introduces a character class, terminated by a | An opening square bracket introduces a character class, terminated by a |
2808 | closing square bracket. A closing square bracket on its own is not spe- | closing square bracket. A closing square bracket on its own is not spe- |
2809 | cial. If a closing square bracket is required as a member of the class, | cial. If a closing square bracket is required as a member of the class, |
2810 | it should be the first data character in the class (after an initial | it should be the first data character in the class (after an initial |
2811 | circumflex, if present) or escaped with a backslash. | circumflex, if present) or escaped with a backslash. |
2812 | ||
2813 | A character class matches a single character in the subject. In UTF-8 | A character class matches a single character in the subject. In UTF-8 |
2814 | mode, the character may occupy more than one byte. A matched character | mode, the character may occupy more than one byte. A matched character |
2815 | must be in the set of characters defined by the class, unless the first | must be in the set of characters defined by the class, unless the first |
2816 | character in the class definition is a circumflex, in which case the | character in the class definition is a circumflex, in which case the |
2817 | subject character must not be in the set defined by the class. If a | subject character must not be in the set defined by the class. If a |
2818 | circumflex is actually required as a member of the class, ensure it is | circumflex is actually required as a member of the class, ensure it is |
2819 | not the first character, or escape it with a backslash. | not the first character, or escape it with a backslash. |
2820 | ||
2821 | For example, the character class [aeiou] matches any lower case vowel, | For example, the character class [aeiou] matches any lower case vowel, |
2822 | while [^aeiou] matches any character that is not a lower case vowel. | while [^aeiou] matches any character that is not a lower case vowel. |
2823 | Note that a circumflex is just a convenient notation for specifying the | Note that a circumflex is just a convenient notation for specifying the |
2824 | characters that are in the class by enumerating those that are not. A | characters that are in the class by enumerating those that are not. A |
2825 | class that starts with a circumflex is not an assertion: it still con- | class that starts with a circumflex is not an assertion: it still con- |
2826 | sumes a character from the subject string, and therefore it fails if | sumes a character from the subject string, and therefore it fails if |
2827 | the current pointer is at the end of the string. | the current pointer is at the end of the string. |
2828 | ||
2829 | In UTF-8 mode, characters with values greater than 255 can be included | In UTF-8 mode, characters with values greater than 255 can be included |
2830 | in a class as a literal string of bytes, or by using the \x{ escaping | in a class as a literal string of bytes, or by using the \x{ escaping |
2831 | mechanism. | mechanism. |
2832 | ||
2833 | When caseless matching is set, any letters in a class represent both | When caseless matching is set, any letters in a class represent both |
2834 | their upper case and lower case versions, so for example, a caseless | their upper case and lower case versions, so for example, a caseless |
2835 | [aeiou] matches "A" as well as "a", and a caseless [^aeiou] does not | [aeiou] matches "A" as well as "a", and a caseless [^aeiou] does not |
2836 | match "A", whereas a caseful version would. When running in UTF-8 mode, | match "A", whereas a caseful version would. In UTF-8 mode, PCRE always |
2837 | PCRE supports the concept of case for characters with values greater | understands the concept of case for characters whose values are less |
2838 | than 128 only when it is compiled with Unicode property support. | than 128, so caseless matching is always possible. For characters with |
2839 | higher values, the concept of case is supported if PCRE is compiled | |
2840 | with Unicode property support, but not otherwise. If you want to use | |
2841 | caseless matching for characters 128 and above, you must ensure that | |
2842 | PCRE is compiled with Unicode property support as well as with UTF-8 | |
2843 | support. | |
2844 | ||
2845 | The newline character is never treated in any special way in character | The newline character is never treated in any special way in character |
2846 | classes, whatever the setting of the PCRE_DOTALL or PCRE_MULTILINE | classes, whatever the setting of the PCRE_DOTALL or PCRE_MULTILINE |
# | Line 3215 CALLOUTS | Line 3760 CALLOUTS |
3760 | gether. A complete description of the interface to the callout function | gether. A complete description of the interface to the callout function |
3761 | is given in the pcrecallout documentation. | is given in the pcrecallout documentation. |
3762 | ||
3763 | Last updated: 09 September 2004 | Last updated: 28 February 2005 |
3764 | Copyright (c) 1997-2004 University of Cambridge. | Copyright (c) 1997-2005 University of Cambridge. |
3765 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
3766 | ||
PCRE(3) PCRE(3) | ||
3767 | ||
3768 | PCREPARTIAL(3) PCREPARTIAL(3) | |
3769 | ||
3770 | ||
3771 | NAME | NAME |
3772 | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions |
3773 | ||
3774 | ||
3775 | PARTIAL MATCHING IN PCRE | PARTIAL MATCHING IN PCRE |
3776 | ||
3777 | In normal use of PCRE, if the subject string that is passed to | In normal use of PCRE, if the subject string that is passed to |
3778 | pcre_exec() matches as far as it goes, but is too short to match the | pcre_exec() or pcre_dfa_exec() matches as far as it goes, but is too |
3779 | entire pattern, PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH is returned. There are circumstances | short to match the entire pattern, PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH is returned. |
3780 | where it might be helpful to distinguish this case from other cases in | There are circumstances where it might be helpful to distinguish this |
3781 | which there is no match. | case from other cases in which there is no match. |
3782 | ||
3783 | Consider, for example, an application where a human is required to type | Consider, for example, an application where a human is required to type |
3784 | in data for a field with specific formatting requirements. An example | in data for a field with specific formatting requirements. An example |
# | Line 3248 PARTIAL MATCHING IN PCRE | Line 3794 PARTIAL MATCHING IN PCRE |
3794 | until the entire string has been entered. | until the entire string has been entered. |
3795 | ||
3796 | PCRE supports the concept of partial matching by means of the PCRE_PAR- | PCRE supports the concept of partial matching by means of the PCRE_PAR- |
3797 | TIAL option, which can be set when calling pcre_exec(). When this is | TIAL option, which can be set when calling pcre_exec() or |
3798 | done, the return code PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH is converted into | pcre_dfa_exec(). When this flag is set for pcre_exec(), the return code |
3799 | PCRE_ERROR_PARTIAL if at any time during the matching process the | PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH is converted into PCRE_ERROR_PARTIAL if at any time |
3800 | entire subject string matched part of the pattern. No captured data is | during the matching process the last part of the subject string matched |
3801 | set when this occurs. | part of the pattern. Unfortunately, for non-anchored matching, it is |
3802 | not possible to obtain the position of the start of the partial match. | |
3803 | No captured data is set when PCRE_ERROR_PARTIAL is returned. | |
3804 | ||
3805 | When PCRE_PARTIAL is set for pcre_dfa_exec(), the return code | |
3806 | PCRE_ERROR_NOMATCH is converted into PCRE_ERROR_PARTIAL if the end of | |
3807 | the subject is reached, there have been no complete matches, but there | |
3808 | is still at least one matching possibility. The portion of the string | |
3809 | that provided the partial match is set as the first matching string. | |
3810 | ||
3811 | Using PCRE_PARTIAL disables one of PCRE's optimizations. PCRE remembers | Using PCRE_PARTIAL disables one of PCRE's optimizations. PCRE remembers |
3812 | the last literal byte in a pattern, and abandons matching immediately | the last literal byte in a pattern, and abandons matching immediately |
# | Line 3263 PARTIAL MATCHING IN PCRE | Line 3817 PARTIAL MATCHING IN PCRE |
3817 | RESTRICTED PATTERNS FOR PCRE_PARTIAL | RESTRICTED PATTERNS FOR PCRE_PARTIAL |
3818 | ||
3819 | Because of the way certain internal optimizations are implemented in | Because of the way certain internal optimizations are implemented in |
3820 | PCRE, the PCRE_PARTIAL option cannot be used with all patterns. | the pcre_exec() function, the PCRE_PARTIAL option cannot be used with |
3821 | Repeated single characters such as | all patterns. These restrictions do not apply when pcre_dfa_exec() is |
3822 | used. For pcre_exec(), repeated single characters such as | |
3823 | ||
3824 | a{2,4} | a{2,4} |
3825 | ||
# | Line 3272 RESTRICTED PATTERNS FOR PCRE_PARTIAL | Line 3827 RESTRICTED PATTERNS FOR PCRE_PARTIAL |
3827 | ||
3828 | \d+ | \d+ |
3829 | ||
3830 | are not permitted if the maximum number of occurrences is greater than | are not permitted if the maximum number of occurrences is greater than |
3831 | one. Optional items such as \d? (where the maximum is one) are permit- | one. Optional items such as \d? (where the maximum is one) are permit- |
3832 | ted. Quantifiers with any values are permitted after parentheses, so | ted. Quantifiers with any values are permitted after parentheses, so |
3833 | the invalid examples above can be coded thus: | the invalid examples above can be coded thus: |
3834 | ||
3835 | (a){2,4} | (a){2,4} |
3836 | (\d)+ | (\d)+ |
3837 | ||
3838 | These constructions run more slowly, but for the kinds of application | These constructions run more slowly, but for the kinds of application |
3839 | that are envisaged for this facility, this is not felt to be a major | that are envisaged for this facility, this is not felt to be a major |
3840 | restriction. | restriction. |
3841 | ||
3842 | If PCRE_PARTIAL is set for a pattern that does not conform to the | If PCRE_PARTIAL is set for a pattern that does not conform to the |
3843 | restrictions, pcre_exec() returns the error code PCRE_ERROR_BADPARTIAL | restrictions, pcre_exec() returns the error code PCRE_ERROR_BADPARTIAL |
3844 | (-13). | (-13). |
3845 | ||
3846 | ||
3847 | EXAMPLE OF PARTIAL MATCHING USING PCRETEST | EXAMPLE OF PARTIAL MATCHING USING PCRETEST |
3848 | ||
3849 | If the escape sequence \P is present in a pcretest data line, the | If the escape sequence \P is present in a pcretest data line, the |
3850 | PCRE_PARTIAL flag is used for the match. Here is a run of pcretest that | PCRE_PARTIAL flag is used for the match. Here is a run of pcretest that |
3851 | uses the date example quoted above: | uses the date example quoted above: |
3852 | ||
# | Line 3308 EXAMPLE OF PARTIAL MATCHING USING PCRETE | Line 3863 EXAMPLE OF PARTIAL MATCHING USING PCRETE |
3863 | data> jP | data> jP |
3864 | No match | No match |
3865 | ||
3866 | The first data string is matched completely, so pcretest shows the | The first data string is matched completely, so pcretest shows the |
3867 | matched substrings. The remaining four strings do not match the com- | matched substrings. The remaining four strings do not match the com- |
3868 | plete pattern, but the first two are partial matches. | plete pattern, but the first two are partial matches. The same test, |
3869 | using DFA matching (by means of the \D escape sequence), produces the | |
3870 | following output: | |
3871 | ||
3872 | Last updated: 08 September 2004 | re> /^?(jan|feb|mar|apr|may|jun|jul|aug|sep|oct|nov|dec)$/ |
3873 | Copyright (c) 1997-2004 University of Cambridge. | data> 25jun04\P\D |
3874 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 0: 25jun04 |
3875 | data> 23dec3\P\D | |
3876 | Partial match: 23dec3 | |
3877 | data> 3ju\P\D | |
3878 | Partial match: 3ju | |
3879 | data> 3juj\P\D | |
3880 | No match | |
3881 | data> j\P\D | |
3882 | No match | |
3883 | ||
3884 | PCRE(3) PCRE(3) | Notice that in this case the portion of the string that was matched is |
3885 | made available. | |
3886 | ||
3887 | ||
3888 | MULTI-SEGMENT MATCHING WITH pcre_dfa_exec() | |
3889 | ||
3890 | When a partial match has been found using pcre_dfa_exec(), it is possi- | |
3891 | ble to continue the match by providing additional subject data and | |
3892 | calling pcre_dfa_exec() again with the PCRE_DFA_RESTART option and the | |
3893 | same working space (where details of the previous partial match are | |
3894 | stored). Here is an example using pcretest, where the \R escape | |
3895 | sequence sets the PCRE_DFA_RESTART option and the \D escape sequence | |
3896 | requests the use of pcre_dfa_exec(): | |
3897 | ||
3898 | re> /^?(jan|feb|mar|apr|may|jun|jul|aug|sep|oct|nov|dec)$/ | |
3899 | data> 23ja\P\D | |
3900 | Partial match: 23ja | |
3901 | data> n05\R\D | |
3902 | 0: n05 | |
3903 | ||
3904 | The first call has "23ja" as the subject, and requests partial match- | |
3905 | ing; the second call has "n05" as the subject for the continued | |
3906 | (restarted) match. Notice that when the match is complete, only the | |
3907 | last part is shown; PCRE does not retain the previously partially- | |
3908 | matched string. It is up to the calling program to do that if it needs | |
3909 | to. | |
3910 | ||
3911 | This facility can be used to pass very long subject strings to | |
3912 | pcre_dfa_exec(). However, some care is needed for certain types of pat- | |
3913 | tern. | |
3914 | ||
3915 | 1. If the pattern contains tests for the beginning or end of a line, | |
3916 | you need to pass the PCRE_NOTBOL or PCRE_NOTEOL options, as appropri- | |
3917 | ate, when the subject string for any call does not contain the begin- | |
3918 | ning or end of a line. | |
3919 | ||
3920 | 2. If the pattern contains backward assertions (including \b or \B), | |
3921 | you need to arrange for some overlap in the subject strings to allow | |
3922 | for this. For example, you could pass the subject in chunks that were | |
3923 | 500 bytes long, but in a buffer of 700 bytes, with the starting offset | |
3924 | set to 200 and the previous 200 bytes at the start of the buffer. | |
3925 | ||
3926 | 3. Matching a subject string that is split into multiple segments does | |
3927 | not always produce exactly the same result as matching over one single | |
3928 | long string. The difference arises when there are multiple matching | |
3929 | possibilities, because a partial match result is given only when there | |
3930 | are no completed matches in a call to fBpcre_dfa_exec(). This means | |
3931 | that as soon as the shortest match has been found, continuation to a | |
3932 | new subject segment is no longer possible. Consider this pcretest | |
3933 | example: | |
3934 | ||
3935 | re> /dog(sbody)?/ | |
3936 | data> do\P\D | |
3937 | Partial match: do | |
3938 | data> gsb\R\P\D | |
3939 | 0: g | |
3940 | data> dogsbody\D | |
3941 | 0: dogsbody | |
3942 | 1: dog | |
3943 | ||
3944 | The pattern matches the words "dog" or "dogsbody". When the subject is | |
3945 | presented in several parts ("do" and "gsb" being the first two) the | |
3946 | match stops when "dog" has been found, and it is not possible to con- | |
3947 | tinue. On the other hand, if "dogsbody" is presented as a single | |
3948 | string, both matches are found. | |
3949 | ||
3950 | Because of this phenomenon, it does not usually make sense to end a | |
3951 | pattern that is going to be matched in this way with a variable repeat. | |
3952 | ||
3953 | Last updated: 28 February 2005 | |
3954 | Copyright (c) 1997-2005 University of Cambridge. | |
3955 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | |
3956 | ||
3957 | ||
3958 | PCREPRECOMPILE(3) PCREPRECOMPILE(3) | |
3959 | ||
3960 | ||
3961 | NAME | NAME |
3962 | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions |
3963 | ||
3964 | ||
3965 | SAVING AND RE-USING PRECOMPILED PCRE PATTERNS | SAVING AND RE-USING PRECOMPILED PCRE PATTERNS |
3966 | ||
3967 | If you are running an application that uses a large number of regular | If you are running an application that uses a large number of regular |
# | Line 3391 SAVING A COMPILED PATTERN | Line 4030 SAVING A COMPILED PATTERN |
4030 | RE-USING A PRECOMPILED PATTERN | RE-USING A PRECOMPILED PATTERN |
4031 | ||
4032 | Re-using a precompiled pattern is straightforward. Having reloaded it | Re-using a precompiled pattern is straightforward. Having reloaded it |
4033 | into main memory, you pass its pointer to pcre_exec() in the usual way. | into main memory, you pass its pointer to pcre_exec() or |
4034 | This should work even on another host, and even if that host has the | pcre_dfa_exec() in the usual way. This should work even on another |
4035 | opposite endianness to the one where the pattern was compiled. | host, and even if that host has the opposite endianness to the one |
4036 | where the pattern was compiled. | |
4037 | However, if you passed a pointer to custom character tables when the | |
4038 | pattern was compiled (the tableptr argument of pcre_compile()), you | However, if you passed a pointer to custom character tables when the |
4039 | must now pass a similar pointer to pcre_exec(), because the value saved | pattern was compiled (the tableptr argument of pcre_compile()), you |
4040 | with the compiled pattern will obviously be nonsense. A field in a | must now pass a similar pointer to pcre_exec() or pcre_dfa_exec(), |
4041 | pcre_extra() block is used to pass this data, as described in the sec- | because the value saved with the compiled pattern will obviously be |
4042 | tion on matching a pattern in the pcreapi documentation. | nonsense. A field in a pcre_extra() block is used to pass this data, as |
4043 | described in the section on matching a pattern in the pcreapi documen- | |
4044 | tation. | |
4045 | ||
4046 | If you did not provide custom character tables when the pattern was | If you did not provide custom character tables when the pattern was |
4047 | compiled, the pointer in the compiled pattern is NULL, which causes | compiled, the pointer in the compiled pattern is NULL, which causes |
# | Line 3411 RE-USING A PRECOMPILED PATTERN | Line 4052 RE-USING A PRECOMPILED PATTERN |
4052 | your own pcre_extra data block and set the study_data field to point to | your own pcre_extra data block and set the study_data field to point to |
4053 | the reloaded study data. You must also set the PCRE_EXTRA_STUDY_DATA | the reloaded study data. You must also set the PCRE_EXTRA_STUDY_DATA |
4054 | bit in the flags field to indicate that study data is present. Then | bit in the flags field to indicate that study data is present. Then |
4055 | pass the pcre_extra block to pcre_exec() in the usual way. | pass the pcre_extra block to pcre_exec() or pcre_dfa_exec() in the |
4056 | usual way. | |
4057 | ||
4058 | ||
4059 | COMPATIBILITY WITH DIFFERENT PCRE RELEASES | COMPATIBILITY WITH DIFFERENT PCRE RELEASES |
4060 | ||
4061 | The layout of the control block that is at the start of the data that | The layout of the control block that is at the start of the data that |
4062 | makes up a compiled pattern was changed for release 5.0. If you have | makes up a compiled pattern was changed for release 5.0. If you have |
4063 | any saved patterns that were compiled with previous releases (not a | any saved patterns that were compiled with previous releases (not a |
4064 | facility that was previously advertised), you will have to recompile | facility that was previously advertised), you will have to recompile |
4065 | them for release 5.0. However, from now on, it should be possible to | them for release 5.0. However, from now on, it should be possible to |
4066 | make changes in a compabible manner. | make changes in a compatible manner. |
4067 | ||
4068 | Last updated: 10 September 2004 | Last updated: 28 February 2005 |
4069 | Copyright (c) 1997-2004 University of Cambridge. | Copyright (c) 1997-2005 University of Cambridge. |
4070 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
4071 | ||
PCRE(3) PCRE(3) | ||
4072 | ||
4073 | PCREPERFORM(3) PCREPERFORM(3) | |
4074 | ||
4075 | ||
4076 | NAME | NAME |
4077 | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions |
4078 | ||
4079 | ||
4080 | PCRE PERFORMANCE | PCRE PERFORMANCE |
4081 | ||
4082 | Certain items that may appear in regular expression patterns are more | Certain items that may appear in regular expression patterns are more |
# | Line 3469 PCRE PERFORMANCE | Line 4112 PCRE PERFORMANCE |
4112 | ||
4113 | If you are using such a pattern with subject strings that do not con- | If you are using such a pattern with subject strings that do not con- |
4114 | tain newlines, the best performance is obtained by setting PCRE_DOTALL, | tain newlines, the best performance is obtained by setting PCRE_DOTALL, |
4115 | or starting the pattern with ^.* to indicate explicit anchoring. That | or starting the pattern with ^.* or ^.*? to indicate explicit anchor- |
4116 | saves PCRE from having to scan along the subject looking for a newline | ing. That saves PCRE from having to scan along the subject looking for |
4117 | to restart at. | a newline to restart at. |
4118 | ||
4119 | Beware of patterns that contain nested indefinite repeats. These can | Beware of patterns that contain nested indefinite repeats. These can |
4120 | take a long time to run when applied to a string that does not match. | take a long time to run when applied to a string that does not match. |
# | Line 3492 PCRE PERFORMANCE | Line 4135 PCRE PERFORMANCE |
4135 | (a+)*b | (a+)*b |
4136 | ||
4137 | where a literal character follows. Before embarking on the standard | where a literal character follows. Before embarking on the standard |
4138 | matching procedure, PCRE checks that there is a "b" later in the | matching procedure, PCRE checks that there is a "b" later in the sub- |
4139 | subject string, and if there is not, it fails the match immediately. | ject string, and if there is not, it fails the match immediately. How- |
4140 | However, when there is no following literal this optimization cannot be | ever, when there is no following literal this optimization cannot be |
4141 | used. You can see the difference by comparing the behaviour of | used. You can see the difference by comparing the behaviour of |
4142 | ||
4143 | (a+)*\d | (a+)*\d |
# | Line 3506 PCRE PERFORMANCE | Line 4149 PCRE PERFORMANCE |
4149 | In many cases, the solution to this kind of performance issue is to use | In many cases, the solution to this kind of performance issue is to use |
4150 | an atomic group or a possessive quantifier. | an atomic group or a possessive quantifier. |
4151 | ||
4152 | Last updated: 09 September 2004 | Last updated: 28 February 2005 |
4153 | Copyright (c) 1997-2004 University of Cambridge. | Copyright (c) 1997-2005 University of Cambridge. |
4154 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
4155 | ||
PCRE(3) PCRE(3) | ||
4156 | ||
4157 | PCREPOSIX(3) PCREPOSIX(3) | |
4158 | ||
4159 | ||
4160 | NAME | NAME |
4161 | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions. | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions. |
4162 | ||
4163 | ||
4164 | SYNOPSIS OF POSIX API | SYNOPSIS OF POSIX API |
4165 | ||
4166 | #include <pcreposix.h> | #include <pcreposix.h> |
# | Line 3537 DESCRIPTION | Line 4181 DESCRIPTION |
4181 | ||
4182 | This set of functions provides a POSIX-style API to the PCRE regular | This set of functions provides a POSIX-style API to the PCRE regular |
4183 | expression package. See the pcreapi documentation for a description of | expression package. See the pcreapi documentation for a description of |
4184 | PCRE's native API, which contains additional functionality. | PCRE's native API, which contains much additional functionality. |
4185 | ||
4186 | The functions described here are just wrapper functions that ultimately | The functions described here are just wrapper functions that ultimately |
4187 | call the PCRE native API. Their prototypes are defined in the | call the PCRE native API. Their prototypes are defined in the |
# | Line 3581 COMPILING A PATTERN | Line 4225 COMPILING A PATTERN |
4225 | The argument cflags is either zero, or contains one or more of the bits | The argument cflags is either zero, or contains one or more of the bits |
4226 | defined by the following macros: | defined by the following macros: |
4227 | ||
4228 | REG_DOTALL | |
4229 | ||
4230 | The PCRE_DOTALL option is set when the expression is passed for compi- | |
4231 | lation to the native function. Note that REG_DOTALL is not part of the | |
4232 | POSIX standard. | |
4233 | ||
4234 | REG_ICASE | REG_ICASE |
4235 | ||
4236 | The PCRE_CASELESS option is set when the expression is passed for com- | The PCRE_CASELESS option is set when the expression is passed for com- |
# | Line 3692 MEMORY USAGE | Line 4342 MEMORY USAGE |
4342 | ||
4343 | AUTHOR | AUTHOR |
4344 | ||
4345 | Philip Hazel <ph10@cam.ac.uk> | Philip Hazel |
4346 | University Computing Service, | University Computing Service, |
4347 | Cambridge CB2 3QG, England. | Cambridge CB2 3QG, England. |
4348 | ||
4349 | Last updated: 07 September 2004 | Last updated: 28 February 2005 |
4350 | Copyright (c) 1997-2004 University of Cambridge. | Copyright (c) 1997-2005 University of Cambridge. |
4351 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
4352 | ||
PCRE(3) PCRE(3) | ||
4353 | ||
4354 | PCRECPP(3) PCRECPP(3) | |
4355 | ||
4356 | ||
4357 | NAME | |
4358 | PCRE - Perl-compatible regular expressions. | |
4359 | ||
4360 | ||
4361 | SYNOPSIS OF C++ WRAPPER | |
4362 | ||
4363 | #include <pcrecpp.h> | |
4364 | ||
4365 | ||
4366 | DESCRIPTION | |
4367 | ||
4368 | The C++ wrapper for PCRE was provided by Google Inc. Some additional | |
4369 | functionality was added by Giuseppe Maxia. This brief man page was con- | |
4370 | structed from the notes in the pcrecpp.h file, which should be con- | |
4371 | sulted for further details. | |
4372 | ||
4373 | ||
4374 | MATCHING INTERFACE | |
4375 | ||
4376 | The "FullMatch" operation checks that supplied text matches a supplied | |
4377 | pattern exactly. If pointer arguments are supplied, it copies matched | |
4378 | sub-strings that match sub-patterns into them. | |
4379 | ||
4380 | Example: successful match | |
4381 | pcrecpp::RE re("h.*o"); | |
4382 | re.FullMatch("hello"); | |
4383 | ||
4384 | Example: unsuccessful match (requires full match): | |
4385 | pcrecpp::RE re("e"); | |
4386 | !re.FullMatch("hello"); | |
4387 | ||
4388 | Example: creating a temporary RE object: | |
4389 | pcrecpp::RE("h.*o").FullMatch("hello"); | |
4390 | ||
4391 | You can pass in a "const char*" or a "string" for "text". The examples | |
4392 | below tend to use a const char*. You can, as in the different examples | |
4393 | above, store the RE object explicitly in a variable or use a temporary | |
4394 | RE object. The examples below use one mode or the other arbitrarily. | |
4395 | Either could correctly be used for any of these examples. | |
4396 | ||
4397 | You must supply extra pointer arguments to extract matched subpieces. | |
4398 | ||
4399 | Example: extracts "ruby" into "s" and 1234 into "i" | |
4400 | int i; | |
4401 | string s; | |
4402 | pcrecpp::RE re("(\\w+):(\\d+)"); | |
4403 | re.FullMatch("ruby:1234", &s, &i); | |
4404 | ||
4405 | Example: does not try to extract any extra sub-patterns | |
4406 | re.FullMatch("ruby:1234", &s); | |
4407 | ||
4408 | Example: does not try to extract into NULL | |
4409 | re.FullMatch("ruby:1234", NULL, &i); | |
4410 | ||
4411 | Example: integer overflow causes failure | |
4412 | !re.FullMatch("ruby:1234567891234", NULL, &i); | |
4413 | ||
4414 | Example: fails because there aren't enough sub-patterns: | |
4415 | !pcrecpp::RE("\\w+:\\d+").FullMatch("ruby:1234", &s); | |
4416 | ||
4417 | Example: fails because string cannot be stored in integer | |
4418 | !pcrecpp::RE("(.*)").FullMatch("ruby", &i); | |
4419 | ||
4420 | The provided pointer arguments can be pointers to any scalar numeric | |
4421 | type, or one of: | |
4422 | ||
4423 | string (matched piece is copied to string) | |
4424 | StringPiece (StringPiece is mutated to point to matched piece) | |
4425 | T (where "bool T::ParseFrom(const char*, int)" exists) | |
4426 | NULL (the corresponding matched sub-pattern is not copied) | |
4427 | ||
4428 | The function returns true iff all of the following conditions are sat- | |
4429 | isfied: | |
4430 | ||
4431 | a. "text" matches "pattern" exactly; | |
4432 | ||
4433 | b. The number of matched sub-patterns is >= number of supplied | |
4434 | pointers; | |
4435 | ||
4436 | c. The "i"th argument has a suitable type for holding the | |
4437 | string captured as the "i"th sub-pattern. If you pass in | |
4438 | NULL for the "i"th argument, or pass fewer arguments than | |
4439 | number of sub-patterns, "i"th captured sub-pattern is | |
4440 | ignored. | |
4441 | ||
4442 | The matching interface supports at most 16 arguments per call. If you | |
4443 | need more, consider using the more general interface | |
4444 | pcrecpp::RE::DoMatch. See pcrecpp.h for the signature for DoMatch. | |
4445 | ||
4446 | ||
4447 | PARTIAL MATCHES | |
4448 | ||
4449 | You can use the "PartialMatch" operation when you want the pattern to | |
4450 | match any substring of the text. | |
4451 | ||
4452 | Example: simple search for a string: | |
4453 | pcrecpp::RE("ell").PartialMatch("hello"); | |
4454 | ||
4455 | Example: find first number in a string: | |
4456 | int number; | |
4457 | pcrecpp::RE re("(\\d+)"); | |
4458 | re.PartialMatch("x*100 + 20", &number); | |
4459 | assert(number == 100); | |
4460 | ||
4461 | ||
4462 | UTF-8 AND THE MATCHING INTERFACE | |
4463 | ||
4464 | By default, pattern and text are plain text, one byte per character. | |
4465 | The UTF8 flag, passed to the constructor, causes both pattern and | |
4466 | string to be treated as UTF-8 text, still a byte stream but potentially | |
4467 | multiple bytes per character. In practice, the text is likelier to be | |
4468 | UTF-8 than the pattern, but the match returned may depend on the UTF8 | |
4469 | flag, so always use it when matching UTF8 text. For example, "." will | |
4470 | match one byte normally but with UTF8 set may match up to three bytes | |
4471 | of a multi-byte character. | |
4472 | ||
4473 | Example: | |
4474 | pcrecpp::RE_Options options; | |
4475 | options.set_utf8(); | |
4476 | pcrecpp::RE re(utf8_pattern, options); | |
4477 | re.FullMatch(utf8_string); | |
4478 | ||
4479 | Example: using the convenience function UTF8(): | |
4480 | pcrecpp::RE re(utf8_pattern, pcrecpp::UTF8()); | |
4481 | re.FullMatch(utf8_string); | |
4482 | ||
4483 | NOTE: The UTF8 flag is ignored if pcre was not configured with the | |
4484 | --enable-utf8 flag. | |
4485 | ||
4486 | ||
4487 | PASSING MODIFIERS TO THE REGULAR EXPRESSION ENGINE | |
4488 | ||
4489 | PCRE defines some modifiers to change the behavior of the regular | |
4490 | expression engine. The C++ wrapper defines an auxiliary class, | |
4491 | RE_Options, as a vehicle to pass such modifiers to a RE class. Cur- | |
4492 | rently, the following modifiers are supported: | |
4493 | ||
4494 | modifier description Perl corresponding | |
4495 | ||
4496 | PCRE_CASELESS case insensitive match /i | |
4497 | PCRE_MULTILINE multiple lines match /m | |
4498 | PCRE_DOTALL dot matches newlines /s | |
4499 | PCRE_DOLLAR_ENDONLY $ matches only at end N/A | |
4500 | PCRE_EXTRA strict escape parsing N/A | |
4501 | PCRE_EXTENDED ignore whitespaces /x | |
4502 | PCRE_UTF8 handles UTF8 chars built-in | |
4503 | PCRE_UNGREEDY reverses * and *? N/A | |
4504 | PCRE_NO_AUTO_CAPTURE disables capturing parens N/A (*) | |
4505 | ||
4506 | (*) Both Perl and PCRE allow non capturing parentheses by means of the | |
4507 | "?:" modifier within the pattern itself. e.g. (?:ab|cd) does not cap- | |
4508 | ture, while (ab|cd) does. | |
4509 | ||
4510 | For a full account on how each modifier works, please check the PCRE | |
4511 | API reference page. | |
4512 | ||
4513 | For each modifier, there are two member functions whose name is made | |
4514 | out of the modifier in lowercase, without the "PCRE_" prefix. For | |
4515 | instance, PCRE_CASELESS is handled by | |
4516 | ||
4517 | bool caseless() | |
4518 | ||
4519 | which returns true if the modifier is set, and | |
4520 | ||
4521 | RE_Options & set_caseless(bool) | |
4522 | ||
4523 | which sets or unsets the modifier. Moreover, PCRE_CONFIG_MATCH_LIMIT | |
4524 | can be accessed through the set_match_limit() and match_limit() member | |
4525 | functions. Setting match_limit to a non-zero value will limit the exe- | |
4526 | cution of pcre to keep it from doing bad things like blowing the stack | |
4527 | or taking an eternity to return a result. A value of 5000 is good | |
4528 | enough to stop stack blowup in a 2MB thread stack. Setting match_limit | |
4529 | to zero disables match limiting. | |
4530 | ||
4531 | Normally, to pass one or more modifiers to a RE class, you declare a | |
4532 | RE_Options object, set the appropriate options, and pass this object to | |
4533 | a RE constructor. Example: | |
4534 | ||
4535 | RE_options opt; | |
4536 | opt.set_caseless(true); | |
4537 | if (RE("HELLO", opt).PartialMatch("hello world")) ... | |
4538 | ||
4539 | RE_options has two constructors. The default constructor takes no argu- | |
4540 | ments and creates a set of flags that are off by default. The optional | |
4541 | parameter option_flags is to facilitate transfer of legacy code from C | |
4542 | programs. This lets you do | |
4543 | ||
4544 | RE(pattern, | |
4545 | RE_Options(PCRE_CASELESS|PCRE_MULTILINE)).PartialMatch(str); | |
4546 | ||
4547 | However, new code is better off doing | |
4548 | ||
4549 | RE(pattern, | |
4550 | RE_Options().set_caseless(true).set_multiline(true)) | |
4551 | .PartialMatch(str); | |
4552 | ||
4553 | If you are going to pass one of the most used modifiers, there are some | |
4554 | convenience functions that return a RE_Options class with the appropri- | |
4555 | ate modifier already set: CASELESS(), UTF8(), MULTILINE(), DOTALL(), | |
4556 | and EXTENDED(). | |
4557 | ||
4558 | If you need to set several options at once, and you don't want to go | |
4559 | through the pains of declaring a RE_Options object and setting several | |
4560 | options, there is a parallel method that give you such ability on the | |
4561 | fly. You can concatenate several set_xxxxx() member functions, since | |
4562 | each of them returns a reference to its class object. For example, to | |
4563 | pass PCRE_CASELESS, PCRE_EXTENDED, and PCRE_MULTILINE to a RE with one | |
4564 | statement, you may write: | |
4565 | ||
4566 | RE(" ^ xyz \\s+ .* blah$", | |
4567 | RE_Options() | |
4568 | .set_caseless(true) | |
4569 | .set_extended(true) | |
4570 | .set_multiline(true)).PartialMatch(sometext); | |
4571 | ||
4572 | ||
4573 | SCANNING TEXT INCREMENTALLY | |
4574 | ||
4575 | The "Consume" operation may be useful if you want to repeatedly match | |
4576 | regular expressions at the front of a string and skip over them as they | |
4577 | match. This requires use of the "StringPiece" type, which represents a | |
4578 | sub-range of a real string. Like RE, StringPiece is defined in the | |
4579 | pcrecpp namespace. | |
4580 | ||
4581 | Example: read lines of the form "var = value" from a string. | |
4582 | string contents = ...; // Fill string somehow | |
4583 | pcrecpp::StringPiece input(contents); // Wrap in a StringPiece | |
4584 | ||
4585 | string var; | |
4586 |