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public final class Matcher extends Object implements MatchResult
An engine that performs match operations on a {@link java.lang.CharSequence
character sequence A matcher is created from a pattern by invoking the pattern's {@link
Pattern#matcher matcher} method. Once created, a matcher can be used to
perform three different kinds of match operations:
The {@link #matches matches} method attempts to match the entire
input sequence against the pattern. The {@link #lookingAt lookingAt} method attempts to match the
input sequence, starting at the beginning, against the pattern. The {@link #find find} method scans the input sequence looking for
the next subsequence that matches the pattern. Each of these methods returns a boolean indicating success or failure.
More information about a successful match can be obtained by querying the
state of the matcher.
A matcher finds matches in a subset of its input called the
region. By default, the region contains all of the matcher's input.
The region can be modified via the{@link #region region} method and queried
via the {@link #regionStart regionStart} and {@link #regionEnd regionEnd}
methods. The way that the region boundaries interact with some pattern
constructs can be changed. See {@link #useAnchoringBounds
useAnchoringBounds} and {@link #useTransparentBounds useTransparentBounds}
for more details.
This class also defines methods for replacing matched subsequences with
new strings whose contents can, if desired, be computed from the match
result. The {@link #appendReplacement appendReplacement} and {@link
#appendTail appendTail} methods can be used in tandem in order to collect
the result into an existing string buffer, or the more convenient {@link
#replaceAll replaceAll} method can be used to create a string in which every
matching subsequence in the input sequence is replaced.
The explicit state of a matcher includes the start and end indices of
the most recent successful match. It also includes the start and end
indices of the input subsequence captured by each capturing group in the pattern as well as a total
count of such subsequences. As a convenience, methods are also provided for
returning these captured subsequences in string form.
The explicit state of a matcher is initially undefined; attempting to
query any part of it before a successful match will cause an {@link
IllegalStateException} to be thrown. The explicit state of a matcher is
recomputed by every match operation.
The implicit state of a matcher includes the input character sequence as
well as the append position, which is initially zero and is updated
by the {@link #appendReplacement appendReplacement} method.
A matcher may be reset explicitly by invoking its {@link #reset()}
method or, if a new input sequence is desired, its {@link
#reset(java.lang.CharSequence) reset(CharSequence)} method. Resetting a
matcher discards its explicit state information and sets the append position
to zero.
Instances of this class are not safe for use by multiple concurrent
threads. This method performs the following actions: It reads characters from the input sequence, starting at the
append position, and appends them to the given string buffer. It
stops after reading the last character preceding the previous match,
that is, the character at index {@link
#start()} - 1. It appends the given replacement string to the string buffer.
It sets the append position of this matcher to the index of
the last character matched, plus one, that is, to {@link #end()}.
The replacement string may contain references to subsequences
captured during the previous match: Each occurrence of
$g will be replaced by the result of
evaluating {@link #group(int) group}(g).
The first number after the $ is always treated as part of
the group reference. Subsequent numbers are incorporated into g if
they would form a legal group reference. Only the numerals '0'
through '9' are considered as potential components of the group
reference. If the second group matched the string "foo", for
example, then passing the replacement string "$2bar" would
cause "foobar" to be appended to the string buffer. A dollar
sign ($) may be included as a literal in the replacement
string by preceding it with a backslash (\$).
Note that backslashes (\) and dollar signs ($) in
the replacement string may cause the results to be different than if it
were being treated as a literal replacement string. Dollar signs may be
treated as references to captured subsequences as described above, and
backslashes are used to escape literal characters in the replacement
string.
This method is intended to be used in a loop together with the
{@link #appendTail appendTail} and {@link #find find} methods. The
following code, for example, writes one dog two dogs in the
yard to the standard-output stream:
This method reads characters from the input sequence, starting at
the append position, and appends them to the given string buffer. It is
intended to be invoked after one or more invocations of the {@link
#appendReplacement appendReplacement} method in order to copy the
remainder of the input sequence.
} by interpreting a {@link Pattern}.
Method Summary
Matcher
appendReplacement(StringBuffer sb, String replacement)
Implements a non-terminal append-and-replace step.
StringBuffer
Implements a terminal append-and-replace step.
int
end()
Returns the offset after the last character matched.
int
end(int group)
Returns the offset after the last character of the subsequence
captured by the given group during the previous match operation.
boolean
find()
Attempts to find the next subsequence of the input sequence that matches
the pattern.
boolean
find(int start)
Resets this matcher and then attempts to find the next subsequence of
the input sequence that matches the pattern, starting at the specified
index.
String
group()
Returns the input subsequence matched by the previous match.
String
group(int group)
Returns the input subsequence captured by the given group during the
previous match operation.
int
Returns the number of capturing groups in this matcher's pattern.
boolean
Queries the anchoring of region bounds for this matcher.
boolean
Queries the transparency of region bounds for this matcher.
boolean
hitEnd()
Returns true if the end of input was hit by the search engine in
the last match operation performed by this matcher.
boolean
Attempts to match the input sequence, starting at the beginning of the
region, against the pattern.
boolean
matches()
Attempts to match the entire region against the pattern.
Pattern
pattern()
Returns the pattern that is interpreted by this matcher.
static String
Returns a literal replacement String
for the specified
String
.
Matcher
region(int start, int end)
Sets the limits of this matcher's region.
int
Reports the end index (exclusive) of this matcher's region.
int
Reports the start index of this matcher's region.
String
replaceAll(String replacement)
Replaces every subsequence of the input sequence that matches the
pattern with the given replacement string.
String
replaceFirst(String replacement)
Replaces the first subsequence of the input sequence that matches the
pattern with the given replacement string.
boolean
Returns true if more input could change a positive match into a
negative one.
Matcher
reset()
Resets this matcher.
Matcher
reset(CharSequence input)
Resets this matcher with a new input sequence.
int
start()
Returns the start index of the previous match.
int
start(int group)
Returns the start index of the subsequence captured by the given group
during the previous match operation.
MatchResult
Returns the match state of this matcher as a java.util.regex.MatchResult.
String
toString()
Returns the string representation of this matcher.
Matcher
useAnchoringBounds(boolean b)
Sets the anchoring of region bounds for this matcher.
Matcher
usePattern(Pattern newPattern)
Changes the Pattern that this Matcher uses to
find matches with.
Matcher
useTransparentBounds(boolean b)
Sets the transparency of region bounds for this matcher.
Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object
clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait
Method Detail
appendReplacement
public Matcher appendReplacement(StringBuffer sb,
String replacement)
Pattern p = Pattern.compile("cat");
Matcher m = p.matcher("one cat two cats in the yard");
StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
while (m.find()) {
m.appendReplacement(sb, "dog");
}
m.appendTail(sb);
System.out.println(sb.toString());
sb
- The target string bufferreplacement
- The replacement string
appendTail
public StringBuffer appendTail(StringBuffer sb)
sb
- The target string buffer
end
public int end()
public int end(int group)
Capturing groups are indexed from left to right, starting at one. Group zero denotes the entire pattern, so the expression m.end(0) is equivalent to m.end().
group
- The index of a capturing group in this matcher's patternpublic boolean find()
This method starts at the beginning of this matcher's region, or, if a previous invocation of the method was successful and the matcher has not since been reset, at the first character not matched by the previous match.
If the match succeeds then more information can be obtained via the start, end, and group methods.
public boolean find(int start)
If the match succeeds then more information can be obtained via the start, end, and group methods, and subsequent invocations of the {@link #find()} method will start at the first character not matched by this match.
start
public String group()
For a matcher m with input sequence s, the expressions m.group() and s.substring(m.start(), m.end()) are equivalent.
Note that some patterns, for example a*, match the empty string. This method will return the empty string when the pattern successfully matches the empty string in the input.
public String group(int group)
For a matcher m, input sequence s, and group index g, the expressions m.group(g) and s.substring(m.start(g), m.end(g)) are equivalent.
Capturing groups are indexed from left to right, starting at one. Group zero denotes the entire pattern, so the expression m.group(0) is equivalent to m.group().
If the match was successful but the group specified failed to match any part of the input sequence, then null is returned. Note that some groups, for example (a*), match the empty string. This method will return the empty string when such a group successfully matches the empty string in the input.
group
- The index of a capturing group in this matcher's patternpublic int groupCount()
Group zero denotes the entire pattern by convention. It is not included in this count.
Any non-negative integer smaller than or equal to the value returned by this method is guaranteed to be a valid group index for this matcher.
public boolean hasAnchoringBounds()
This method returns true if this matcher uses anchoring bounds, false otherwise.
See {@link #useAnchoringBounds useAnchoringBounds} for a description of anchoring bounds.
By default, a matcher uses anchoring region boundaries.
public boolean hasTransparentBounds()
This method returns true if this matcher uses transparent bounds, false if it uses opaque bounds.
See {@link #useTransparentBounds useTransparentBounds} for a description of transparent and opaque bounds.
By default, a matcher uses opaque region boundaries.
public boolean hitEnd()
Returns true if the end of input was hit by the search engine in the last match operation performed by this matcher.
When this method returns true, then it is possible that more input would have changed the result of the last search.
public boolean lookingAt()
Like the {@link #matches matches} method, this method always starts at the beginning of the region; unlike that method, it does not require that the entire region be matched.
If the match succeeds then more information can be obtained via the start, end, and group methods.
public boolean matches()
If the match succeeds then more information can be obtained via the start, end, and group methods.
public Pattern pattern()
public static String quoteReplacement(String s)
String
for the specified
String
.
This method produces a String
that will work
as a literal replacement s
in the
appendReplacement
method of the {@link Matcher} class.
The String
produced will match the sequence of characters
in s
treated as a literal sequence. Slashes ('\') and
dollar signs ('$') will be given no special meaning.
s
- The string to be literalizedpublic Matcher region(int start, int end)
start
parameter and end at the
index specified by the end
parameter.
Depending on the transparency and anchoring being used (see {@link #useTransparentBounds useTransparentBounds} and {@link #useAnchoringBounds useAnchoringBounds}), certain constructs such as anchors may behave differently at or around the boundaries of the region.
start
- The index to start searching at (inclusive)end
- The index to end searching at (exclusive)public int regionEnd()
public int regionStart()
public String replaceAll(String replacement)
This method first resets this matcher. It then scans the input sequence looking for matches of the pattern. Characters that are not part of any match are appended directly to the result string; each match is replaced in the result by the replacement string. The replacement string may contain references to captured subsequences as in the {@link #appendReplacement appendReplacement} method.
Note that backslashes (\) and dollar signs ($) in the replacement string may cause the results to be different than if it were being treated as a literal replacement string. Dollar signs may be treated as references to captured subsequences as described above, and backslashes are used to escape literal characters in the replacement string.
Given the regular expression a*b, the input "aabfooaabfooabfoob", and the replacement string "-", an invocation of this method on a matcher for that expression would yield the string "-foo-foo-foo-".
Invoking this method changes this matcher's state. If the matcher is to be used in further matching operations then it should first be reset.
replacement
- The replacement stringpublic String replaceFirst(String replacement)
This method first resets this matcher. It then scans the input sequence looking for a match of the pattern. Characters that are not part of the match are appended directly to the result string; the match is replaced in the result by the replacement string. The replacement string may contain references to captured subsequences as in the {@link #appendReplacement appendReplacement} method.
Note that backslashes (\) and dollar signs ($) in the replacement string may cause the results to be different than if it were being treated as a literal replacement string. Dollar signs may be treated as references to captured subsequences as described above, and backslashes are used to escape literal characters in the replacement string.
Given the regular expression dog, the input "zzzdogzzzdogzzz", and the replacement string "cat", an invocation of this method on a matcher for that expression would yield the string "zzzcatzzzdogzzz".
Invoking this method changes this matcher's state. If the matcher is to be used in further matching operations then it should first be reset.
replacement
- The replacement stringpublic boolean requireEnd()
Returns true if more input could change a positive match into a negative one.
If this method returns true, and a match was found, then more input could cause the match to be lost. If this method returns false and a match was found, then more input might change the match but the match won't be lost. If a match was not found, then requireEnd has no meaning.
public Matcher reset()
Resetting a matcher discards all of its explicit state information and sets its append position to zero. The matcher's region is set to the default region, which is its entire character sequence. The anchoring and transparency of this matcher's region boundaries are unaffected.
public Matcher reset(CharSequence input)
Resetting a matcher discards all of its explicit state information and sets its append position to zero. The matcher's region is set to the default region, which is its entire character sequence. The anchoring and transparency of this matcher's region boundaries are unaffected.
input
- The new input character sequencepublic int start()
public int start(int group)
Capturing groups are indexed from left to right, starting at one. Group zero denotes the entire pattern, so the expression m.start(0) is equivalent to m.start().
group
- The index of a capturing group in this matcher's patternpublic MatchResult toMatchResult()
MatchResult
with the state of this matcherpublic String toString()
Returns the string representation of this matcher. The
string representation of a Matcher
contains information
that may be useful for debugging. The exact format is unspecified.
toString
in class Object
public Matcher useAnchoringBounds(boolean b)
Invoking this method with an argument of true will set this matcher to use anchoring bounds. If the boolean argument is false, then non-anchoring bounds will be used.
Using anchoring bounds, the boundaries of this matcher's region match anchors such as ^ and $.
Without anchoring bounds, the boundaries of this matcher's region will not match anchors such as ^ and $.
By default, a matcher uses anchoring region boundaries.
b
- a boolean indicating whether or not to use anchoring bounds.public Matcher usePattern(Pattern newPattern)
This method causes this matcher to lose information about the groups of the last match that occurred. The matcher's position in the input is maintained and its last append position is unaffected.
newPattern
- The new pattern used by this matcherpublic Matcher useTransparentBounds(boolean b)
Invoking this method with an argument of true will set this matcher to use transparent bounds. If the boolean argument is false, then opaque bounds will be used.
Using transparent bounds, the boundaries of this matcher's region are transparent to lookahead, lookbehind, and boundary matching constructs. Those constructs can see beyond the boundaries of the region to see if a match is appropriate.
Using opaque bounds, the boundaries of this matcher's region are opaque to lookahead, lookbehind, and boundary matching constructs that may try to see beyond them. Those constructs cannot look past the boundaries so they will fail to match anything outside of the region.
By default, a matcher uses opaque bounds.
b
- a boolean indicating whether to use opaque or transparent
regions
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