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Python Regular Expressions in Python Introduction to Regular Expressions Name Groups

Posted by Manan Trivedi
Manan Trivedi
2,170 Points

Regex with space:

for matching

string = 'Perotto, Pier Giorgio'

when i used ......

names = re.match(r'([\w]*), ([\w]+\s [\w]+)', string) not worked with \s

but( without \s ) worked fine names = re.match(r'([\w]*), ([\w]+ [\w]+)', string)

any idea..?

1 Answer

Joshua Yoerger
Joshua Yoerger
11,206 Points

Manan,

You should be able to use either the \s character or an explicit space in this situation. I notice that in your first example you have both. If you remove the explicit space after \s the first regex should work for you. Single spaces are easy miss in code snippets and a proportional font can be even more difficult! 

import re

string = 'Perotto, Pier Giorgio'

names = re.match(r'([\w]*), ([\w]+\s [\w]+)', string)  # With the space after \s
names = re.match(r'([\w]*), ([\w]+\s[\w]+)', string)  # Without the space after \s

Note that an explicit space and the \s character are not strictly interchangeable as \s is more inclusive and will find any whitespace character (e.g. a tab, a newline, etc).

Also, the brackets ([]) are unnecessary when there is only one regex character inside.

Cheers.

Manan Trivedi
Manan Trivedi
2,170 Points

Thanks!!