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JavaScript Regular Expressions in JavaScript Regular Expressions Finding Repeated Characters

Posted by JASON LEE
JASON LEE
17,352 Points

In the last example, inconsistent result \w* vs \w+

In the last example, using the following test case

E4763GHC
7896TOB3P
L0003

in the regexpal.com site, when I try \w*, I only get the first row highlight. But when I use \w+ I get all rows highlighted. Why is this?

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,261 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,261 Points

The wildcard (*) isn't very useful with one token, since it matches zero or more of that token. So it will generally be used in combination with other tokens. For example: \w\w* will do the same thing as \w+.

Also, be sure that the regexpal "global" flag is set the same way when comparing expressions. My guess is that you had it off for the first expression but on for the second.