spacer

Webref WebRef   Sitemap · Experts · Tools · Services · Newsletters · About i.com

home / experts / javascript / column5


Pattern Matching and Regular Expressions

Developer News
OpenOffice 3.2 Lands Amid Critical Changes
Red Hat, IBM Firmly in KVM Virtualization Camp
Red Hat Talks Up Open Source Cloud Plans

In this prescription we take a break from Dynamic HTML, and turn to another fourth-generation browser feature: Pattern Matching and Regular Expressions. Regular Expressions have always been a powerful tool in the arsenal of every Unix system administrator, and subsequentially every Perl programmer. Recently, these capabilities were introduced to JavaScript, in Netscape Navigator 4.0x and Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0. In this in-depth column we'll show you several practical examples, ranging from a feedback form, through advanced string evaluation. In each example you'll learn how you can use regular expressions in JavaScript to analyze the user's input and verify such things as a false or malformed e-mail address or phone number.

This column consists of two parts. The first part covers regular expressions and pattern matching in general, while the second deals with the JavaScript implementation. If you're familiar with Perl or Unix shell prorgamming, you probably won't need to read the first part. However, we suggest you scan it to refresh your memory. The second part of this column consists of useful examples for you to cut and paste, including a general feedback form (no CGI here). In this column you'll find out:

Pattern Matching and Regular Exressions
  1. What you can do with regular expressions.
  2. How to use various modifiers with matching operators.
  3. How to construct regular expressions.
  4. What rules apply to all regular expressions.
  5. How to use values (backreferences) inside and after a regexp.
  6. How to perform substitution commands.
JavaScript Regular Expressions
  1. How to define regular expressions.
  2. How to use the regular expression methods.
  3. How to use backreferences.
  4. How to create a general feedback form.
  5. How to provide a workaround for older browsers.

Perl is the programming language from which JavaScript modeled its regular expressions. Thus, the first part of this column deals with regular expressions in Perl (with some JavaScript notes). It's based on the book "Programming Perl, 2nd Edition" by Larry Wall, Tom Christiansen, and Randal L. Schwartz (ISBN 1-56592-149-6).

More Resources from Doc JavaScript
Columns Popular Columns Tips Tools
Latest Columns
41-50 | 31-40 | 21-30
11-20 | 1-10
Working with Windows
JavaScript and Frames
Bookmarklets
Random Tips
Personalized Tips
RSS Channels
Menu Builder
Rollover Builder
Rotation Builder
Reference Tip Categories (want one?)
Links
For Your Site
Did you learn something? Do you like this site? Please link to us!

http://www.internet.com


The Network for Technology Professionals

Search:

About Internet.com

Legal Notices, Licensing, Permissions, Privacy Policy.
Advertise | Newsletters | E-mail Offers

webref The latest from WebReference.com Browse >
Search Engine Optimization: Selecting and Embedding Keywords · Are Google's Language Translation Web Services Ready for Prime Time? · Installing and Using Meeplace, the Business Review CMS
Sitemap · Experts · Tools · Services · Email a Colleague · Contact FREE Newsletters 
 The latest from internet.com
IBM DB2 10 for z/OS: Justifying the Upgrade · Living La Vida Colo: Choosing the Right Colocation Facility · FTC Concerns over Social Media Privacy Linger

Created: October 23, 1997, 1997
Revised: December 4, 1997
URL: http://www.webreference.com/js/column5/