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annotate lispref/searching.texi @ 27301:8c79b30d8475
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author | Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org> |
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date | Wed, 12 Jan 2000 05:22:30 +0000 |
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6552 | 1 @c -*-texinfo-*- |
2 @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. | |
27189 | 3 @c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999 |
4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc. | |
6552 | 5 @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. |
6 @setfilename ../info/searching | |
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7 @node Searching and Matching, Syntax Tables, Non-ASCII Characters, Top |
6552 | 8 @chapter Searching and Matching |
9 @cindex searching | |
10 | |
11 GNU Emacs provides two ways to search through a buffer for specified | |
12 text: exact string searches and regular expression searches. After a | |
13 regular expression search, you can examine the @dfn{match data} to | |
14 determine which text matched the whole regular expression or various | |
15 portions of it. | |
16 | |
17 @menu | |
18 * String Search:: Search for an exact match. | |
19 * Regular Expressions:: Describing classes of strings. | |
20 * Regexp Search:: Searching for a match for a regexp. | |
12067 | 21 * POSIX Regexps:: Searching POSIX-style for the longest match. |
6552 | 22 * Search and Replace:: Internals of @code{query-replace}. |
23 * Match Data:: Finding out which part of the text matched | |
24 various parts of a regexp, after regexp search. | |
25 * Searching and Case:: Case-independent or case-significant searching. | |
26 * Standard Regexps:: Useful regexps for finding sentences, pages,... | |
27 @end menu | |
28 | |
29 The @samp{skip-chars@dots{}} functions also perform a kind of searching. | |
30 @xref{Skipping Characters}. | |
31 | |
32 @node String Search | |
33 @section Searching for Strings | |
34 @cindex string search | |
35 | |
36 These are the primitive functions for searching through the text in a | |
37 buffer. They are meant for use in programs, but you may call them | |
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38 interactively. If you do so, they prompt for the search string; the |
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39 arguments @var{limit} and @var{noerror} are @code{nil}, and @var{repeat} |
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40 is 1. |
6552 | 41 |
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42 These search functions convert the search string to multibyte if the |
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43 buffer is multibyte; they convert the search string to unibyte if the |
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44 buffer is unibyte. @xref{Text Representations}. |
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45 |
6552 | 46 @deffn Command search-forward string &optional limit noerror repeat |
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47 This function searches forward from point for an exact match for |
6552 | 48 @var{string}. If successful, it sets point to the end of the occurrence |
49 found, and returns the new value of point. If no match is found, the | |
50 value and side effects depend on @var{noerror} (see below). | |
51 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
52 | |
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53 In the following example, point is initially at the beginning of the |
6552 | 54 line. Then @code{(search-forward "fox")} moves point after the last |
55 letter of @samp{fox}: | |
56 | |
57 @example | |
58 @group | |
59 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
60 @point{}The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. | |
61 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
62 @end group | |
63 | |
64 @group | |
65 (search-forward "fox") | |
66 @result{} 20 | |
67 | |
68 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
69 The quick brown fox@point{} jumped over the lazy dog. | |
70 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
71 @end group | |
72 @end example | |
73 | |
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74 The argument @var{limit} specifies the upper bound to the search. (It |
6552 | 75 must be a position in the current buffer.) No match extending after |
76 that position is accepted. If @var{limit} is omitted or @code{nil}, it | |
77 defaults to the end of the accessible portion of the buffer. | |
78 | |
79 @kindex search-failed | |
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80 What happens when the search fails depends on the value of |
6552 | 81 @var{noerror}. If @var{noerror} is @code{nil}, a @code{search-failed} |
82 error is signaled. If @var{noerror} is @code{t}, @code{search-forward} | |
83 returns @code{nil} and does nothing. If @var{noerror} is neither | |
84 @code{nil} nor @code{t}, then @code{search-forward} moves point to the | |
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85 upper bound and returns @code{nil}. (It would be more consistent now to |
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86 return the new position of point in that case, but some existing |
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87 programs may depend on a value of @code{nil}.) |
6552 | 88 |
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89 If @var{repeat} is supplied (it must be a positive number), then the |
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90 search is repeated that many times (each time starting at the end of the |
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91 previous time's match). If these successive searches succeed, the |
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92 function succeeds, moving point and returning its new value. Otherwise |
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93 the search fails. |
6552 | 94 @end deffn |
95 | |
96 @deffn Command search-backward string &optional limit noerror repeat | |
97 This function searches backward from point for @var{string}. It is | |
98 just like @code{search-forward} except that it searches backwards and | |
99 leaves point at the beginning of the match. | |
100 @end deffn | |
101 | |
102 @deffn Command word-search-forward string &optional limit noerror repeat | |
103 @cindex word search | |
104 This function searches forward from point for a ``word'' match for | |
105 @var{string}. If it finds a match, it sets point to the end of the | |
106 match found, and returns the new value of point. | |
107 @c Emacs 19 feature | |
108 | |
109 Word matching regards @var{string} as a sequence of words, disregarding | |
110 punctuation that separates them. It searches the buffer for the same | |
111 sequence of words. Each word must be distinct in the buffer (searching | |
112 for the word @samp{ball} does not match the word @samp{balls}), but the | |
113 details of punctuation and spacing are ignored (searching for @samp{ball | |
114 boy} does match @samp{ball. Boy!}). | |
115 | |
116 In this example, point is initially at the beginning of the buffer; the | |
117 search leaves it between the @samp{y} and the @samp{!}. | |
118 | |
119 @example | |
120 @group | |
121 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
122 @point{}He said "Please! Find | |
123 the ball boy!" | |
124 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
125 @end group | |
126 | |
127 @group | |
128 (word-search-forward "Please find the ball, boy.") | |
129 @result{} 35 | |
130 | |
131 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
132 He said "Please! Find | |
133 the ball boy@point{}!" | |
134 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
135 @end group | |
136 @end example | |
137 | |
138 If @var{limit} is non-@code{nil} (it must be a position in the current | |
139 buffer), then it is the upper bound to the search. The match found must | |
140 not extend after that position. | |
141 | |
142 If @var{noerror} is @code{nil}, then @code{word-search-forward} signals | |
143 an error if the search fails. If @var{noerror} is @code{t}, then it | |
144 returns @code{nil} instead of signaling an error. If @var{noerror} is | |
145 neither @code{nil} nor @code{t}, it moves point to @var{limit} (or the | |
146 end of the buffer) and returns @code{nil}. | |
147 | |
148 If @var{repeat} is non-@code{nil}, then the search is repeated that many | |
149 times. Point is positioned at the end of the last match. | |
150 @end deffn | |
151 | |
152 @deffn Command word-search-backward string &optional limit noerror repeat | |
153 This function searches backward from point for a word match to | |
154 @var{string}. This function is just like @code{word-search-forward} | |
155 except that it searches backward and normally leaves point at the | |
156 beginning of the match. | |
157 @end deffn | |
158 | |
159 @node Regular Expressions | |
160 @section Regular Expressions | |
161 @cindex regular expression | |
162 @cindex regexp | |
163 | |
164 A @dfn{regular expression} (@dfn{regexp}, for short) is a pattern that | |
165 denotes a (possibly infinite) set of strings. Searching for matches for | |
166 a regexp is a very powerful operation. This section explains how to write | |
167 regexps; the following section says how to search for them. | |
168 | |
169 @menu | |
170 * Syntax of Regexps:: Rules for writing regular expressions. | |
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171 * Regexp Functions:: Functions for operating on regular expressions. |
6552 | 172 * Regexp Example:: Illustrates regular expression syntax. |
173 @end menu | |
174 | |
175 @node Syntax of Regexps | |
176 @subsection Syntax of Regular Expressions | |
177 | |
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178 Regular expressions have a syntax in which a few characters are |
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179 special constructs and the rest are @dfn{ordinary}. An ordinary |
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180 character is a simple regular expression that matches that character and |
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181 nothing else. The special characters are @samp{.}, @samp{*}, @samp{+}, |
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182 @samp{?}, @samp{[}, @samp{]}, @samp{^}, @samp{$}, and @samp{\}; no new |
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183 special characters will be defined in the future. Any other character |
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184 appearing in a regular expression is ordinary, unless a @samp{\} |
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185 precedes it. |
6552 | 186 |
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187 For example, @samp{f} is not a special character, so it is ordinary, and |
6552 | 188 therefore @samp{f} is a regular expression that matches the string |
189 @samp{f} and no other string. (It does @emph{not} match the string | |
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190 @samp{fg}, but it does match a @emph{part} of that string.) Likewise, |
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191 @samp{o} is a regular expression that matches only @samp{o}.@refill |
6552 | 192 |
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193 Any two regular expressions @var{a} and @var{b} can be concatenated. The |
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194 result is a regular expression that matches a string if @var{a} matches |
6552 | 195 some amount of the beginning of that string and @var{b} matches the rest of |
196 the string.@refill | |
197 | |
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198 As a simple example, we can concatenate the regular expressions @samp{f} |
6552 | 199 and @samp{o} to get the regular expression @samp{fo}, which matches only |
200 the string @samp{fo}. Still trivial. To do something more powerful, you | |
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201 need to use one of the special regular expression constructs. |
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202 |
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203 @menu |
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204 * Regexp Special:: Special characters in regular expressions. |
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205 * Char Classes:: Character classes used in regular expressions. |
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206 * Regexp Backslash:: Backslash-sequences in regular expressions. |
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207 @end menu |
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208 |
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209 @node Regexp Special |
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210 @subsubsection Special Characters in Regular Expressions |
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211 |
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212 Here is a list of the characters that are special in a regular |
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213 expression. |
6552 | 214 |
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215 @need 800 |
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216 @table @asis |
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217 @item @samp{.}@: @r{(Period)} |
6552 | 218 @cindex @samp{.} in regexp |
219 is a special character that matches any single character except a newline. | |
220 Using concatenation, we can make regular expressions like @samp{a.b}, which | |
221 matches any three-character string that begins with @samp{a} and ends with | |
222 @samp{b}.@refill | |
223 | |
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224 @item @samp{*} |
6552 | 225 @cindex @samp{*} in regexp |
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226 is not a construct by itself; it is a postfix operator that means to |
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227 match the preceding regular expression repetitively as many times as |
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228 possible. Thus, @samp{o*} matches any number of @samp{o}s (including no |
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229 @samp{o}s). |
6552 | 230 |
231 @samp{*} always applies to the @emph{smallest} possible preceding | |
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232 expression. Thus, @samp{fo*} has a repeating @samp{o}, not a repeating |
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233 @samp{fo}. It matches @samp{f}, @samp{fo}, @samp{foo}, and so on. |
6552 | 234 |
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235 The matcher processes a @samp{*} construct by matching, immediately, as |
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236 many repetitions as can be found. Then it continues with the rest of |
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237 the pattern. If that fails, backtracking occurs, discarding some of the |
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238 matches of the @samp{*}-modified construct in the hope that that will |
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239 make it possible to match the rest of the pattern. For example, in |
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240 matching @samp{ca*ar} against the string @samp{caaar}, the @samp{a*} |
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241 first tries to match all three @samp{a}s; but the rest of the pattern is |
6552 | 242 @samp{ar} and there is only @samp{r} left to match, so this try fails. |
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243 The next alternative is for @samp{a*} to match only two @samp{a}s. With |
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244 this choice, the rest of the regexp matches successfully.@refill |
6552 | 245 |
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246 Nested repetition operators can be extremely slow if they specify |
12067 | 247 backtracking loops. For example, it could take hours for the regular |
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248 expression @samp{\(x+y*\)*a} to try to match the sequence |
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249 @samp{xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxz}, before it ultimately fails. |
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250 The slowness is because Emacs must try each imaginable way of grouping |
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251 the 35 @samp{x}s before concluding that none of them can work. To make |
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252 sure your regular expressions run fast, check nested repetitions |
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253 carefully. |
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254 |
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255 @item @samp{+} |
6552 | 256 @cindex @samp{+} in regexp |
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257 is a postfix operator, similar to @samp{*} except that it must match |
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258 the preceding expression at least once. So, for example, @samp{ca+r} |
6552 | 259 matches the strings @samp{car} and @samp{caaaar} but not the string |
260 @samp{cr}, whereas @samp{ca*r} matches all three strings. | |
261 | |
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262 @item @samp{?} |
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264 is a postfix operator, similar to @samp{*} except that it must match the |
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265 preceding expression either once or not at all. For example, |
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266 @samp{ca?r} matches @samp{car} or @samp{cr}; nothing else. |
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268 @item @samp{*?}, @samp{+?}, @samp{??} |
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269 These are ``non-greedy'' variants of the operators @samp{*}, @samp{+} |
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270 and @samp{?}. Where those operators match the largest possible |
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271 substring (consistent with matching the entire containing expression), |
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272 the non-greedy variants match the smallest possible substring |
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273 (consistent with matching the entire containing expression). |
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274 |
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275 For example, the regular expression @samp{c[ad]*a} when applied to the |
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276 string @samp{cdaaada} matches the whole string; but the regular |
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277 expression @samp{c[ad]*?a}, applied to that same string, matches just |
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278 @samp{cda}. (The smallest possible match here for @samp{[ad]*?} that |
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279 permits the whole expression to match is @samp{d}.) |
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280 |
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281 @item @samp{[ @dots{} ]} |
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282 @cindex character alternative (in regexp) |
6552 | 283 @cindex @samp{[} in regexp |
284 @cindex @samp{]} in regexp | |
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285 is a @dfn{character alternative}, which begins with @samp{[} and is |
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286 terminated by @samp{]}. In the simplest case, the characters between |
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287 the two brackets are what this character alternative can match. |
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289 Thus, @samp{[ad]} matches either one @samp{a} or one @samp{d}, and |
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290 @samp{[ad]*} matches any string composed of just @samp{a}s and @samp{d}s |
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291 (including the empty string), from which it follows that @samp{c[ad]*r} |
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292 matches @samp{cr}, @samp{car}, @samp{cdr}, @samp{caddaar}, etc. |
6552 | 293 |
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294 You can also include character ranges in a character alternative, by |
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295 writing the starting and ending characters with a @samp{-} between them. |
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296 Thus, @samp{[a-z]} matches any lower-case @sc{ascii} letter. Ranges may be |
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297 intermixed freely with individual characters, as in @samp{[a-z$%.]}, |
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298 which matches any lower case @sc{ascii} letter or @samp{$}, @samp{%} or |
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299 period. |
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301 Note that the usual regexp special characters are not special inside a |
24934 | 302 character alternative. A completely different set of characters is |
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303 special inside character alternatives: @samp{]}, @samp{-} and @samp{^}. |
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304 |
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305 To include a @samp{]} in a character alternative, you must make it the |
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306 first character. For example, @samp{[]a]} matches @samp{]} or @samp{a}. |
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307 To include a @samp{-}, write @samp{-} as the first or last character of |
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308 the character alternative, or put it after a range. Thus, @samp{[]-]} |
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309 matches both @samp{]} and @samp{-}. |
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311 To include @samp{^} in a character alternative, put it anywhere but at |
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312 the beginning. |
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314 The beginning and end of a range must be in the same character set |
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315 (@pxref{Character Sets}). Thus, @samp{[a-\x8e0]} is invalid because |
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316 @samp{a} is in the @sc{ascii} character set but the character 0x8e0 |
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317 (@samp{a} with grave accent) is in the Emacs character set for Latin-1. |
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318 |
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319 You cannot always match all non-@sc{ascii} characters with the regular |
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320 expression @samp{[\200-\377]}. This works when searching a unibyte |
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321 buffer or string (@pxref{Text Representations}), but not in a multibyte |
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322 buffer or string, because many non-@sc{ascii} characters have codes |
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323 above octal 0377. However, the regular expression @samp{[^\000-\177]} |
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324 does match all non-@sc{ascii} characters (see below regarding @samp{^}), |
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325 in both multibyte and unibyte representations, because only the |
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326 @sc{ascii} characters are excluded. |
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327 |
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328 Starting in Emacs 21, a character alternative can also specify named |
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329 character classes (@pxref{Char Classes}). This is a POSIX feature whose |
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330 syntax is @samp{[:@var{class}:]}. Using a character class is equivalent |
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331 to mentioning each of the characters in that class; but the latter is |
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332 not feasible in practice, since some classes include thousands of |
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333 different characters. |
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334 |
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335 @item @samp{[^ @dots{} ]} |
6552 | 336 @cindex @samp{^} in regexp |
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337 @samp{[^} begins a @dfn{complemented character alternative}, which matches any |
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338 character except the ones specified. Thus, @samp{[^a-z0-9A-Z]} matches |
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339 all characters @emph{except} letters and digits. |
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341 @samp{^} is not special in a character alternative unless it is the first |
6552 | 342 character. The character following the @samp{^} is treated as if it |
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343 were first (in other words, @samp{-} and @samp{]} are not special there). |
6552 | 344 |
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345 A complemented character alternative can match a newline, unless newline is |
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346 mentioned as one of the characters not to match. This is in contrast to |
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347 the handling of regexps in programs such as @code{grep}. |
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349 @item @samp{^} |
6552 | 350 @cindex beginning of line in regexp |
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351 is a special character that matches the empty string, but only at the |
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352 beginning of a line in the text being matched. Otherwise it fails to |
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353 match anything. Thus, @samp{^foo} matches a @samp{foo} that occurs at |
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354 the beginning of a line. |
6552 | 355 |
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356 When matching a string instead of a buffer, @samp{^} matches at the |
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357 beginning of the string or after a newline character @samp{\n}. |
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359 For historical compatibility reasons, @samp{^} can be used only at the |
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360 beginning of the regular expression, or after @samp{\(} or @samp{\|}. |
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361 |
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362 @item @samp{$} |
6552 | 363 @cindex @samp{$} in regexp |
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364 @cindex end of line in regexp |
6552 | 365 is similar to @samp{^} but matches only at the end of a line. Thus, |
366 @samp{x+$} matches a string of one @samp{x} or more at the end of a line. | |
367 | |
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368 When matching a string instead of a buffer, @samp{$} matches at the end |
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369 of the string or before a newline character @samp{\n}. |
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371 For historical compatibility reasons, @samp{$} can be used only at the |
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372 end of the regular expression, or before @samp{\)} or @samp{\|}. |
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373 |
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374 @item @samp{\} |
6552 | 375 @cindex @samp{\} in regexp |
376 has two functions: it quotes the special characters (including | |
377 @samp{\}), and it introduces additional special constructs. | |
378 | |
379 Because @samp{\} quotes special characters, @samp{\$} is a regular | |
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380 expression that matches only @samp{$}, and @samp{\[} is a regular |
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381 expression that matches only @samp{[}, and so on. |
6552 | 382 |
383 Note that @samp{\} also has special meaning in the read syntax of Lisp | |
384 strings (@pxref{String Type}), and must be quoted with @samp{\}. For | |
385 example, the regular expression that matches the @samp{\} character is | |
386 @samp{\\}. To write a Lisp string that contains the characters | |
387 @samp{\\}, Lisp syntax requires you to quote each @samp{\} with another | |
388 @samp{\}. Therefore, the read syntax for a regular expression matching | |
389 @samp{\} is @code{"\\\\"}.@refill | |
390 @end table | |
391 | |
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392 @strong{Please note:} For historical compatibility, special characters |
6552 | 393 are treated as ordinary ones if they are in contexts where their special |
394 meanings make no sense. For example, @samp{*foo} treats @samp{*} as | |
395 ordinary since there is no preceding expression on which the @samp{*} | |
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396 can act. It is poor practice to depend on this behavior; quote the |
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397 special character anyway, regardless of where it appears.@refill |
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399 @node Char Classes |
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400 @subsubsection Character Classes |
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401 @cindex character classes in regexp |
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402 |
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403 Here is a table of the classes you can use in a character alternative, |
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404 in Emacs 21, and what they mean: |
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405 |
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406 @table @samp |
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407 @item [:ascii:] |
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408 This matches any ASCII (unibyte) character. |
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409 @item [:alnum:] |
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410 This matches any letter or digit. (At present, for multibyte |
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411 characters, it matches anything that has word syntax.) |
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412 @item [:alpha:] |
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413 This matches any letter. (At present, for multibyte characters, it |
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414 matches anything that has word syntax.) |
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415 @item [:blank:] |
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416 This matches space and tab only. |
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417 @item [:cntrl:] |
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418 This matches any ASCII control character. |
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419 @item [:digit:] |
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420 This matches @samp{0} through @samp{9}. Thus, @samp{[-+[:digit:]]} |
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421 matches any digit, as well as @samp{+} and @samp{-}. |
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422 @item [:graph:] |
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423 This matches graphic characters---everything except ASCII control characters, |
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424 space, and DEL. |
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425 @item [:lower:] |
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426 This matches any lower-case letter, as determined by |
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427 the current case table (@pxref{Case Tables}). |
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428 @item [:nonascii:] |
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429 This matches any non-ASCII (multibyte) character. |
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430 @item [:print:] |
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431 This matches printing characters---everything except ASCII control |
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432 characters and DEL. |
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433 @item [:punct:] |
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434 This matches any punctuation character. (At present, for multibyte |
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435 characters, it matches anything that has non-word syntax.) |
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436 @item [:space:] |
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437 This matches any character that has whitespace syntax |
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438 (@pxref{Syntax Class Table}). |
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439 @item [:upper:] |
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440 This matches any upper-case letter, as determined by |
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441 the current case table (@pxref{Case Tables}). |
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442 @item [:word:] |
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443 This matches any character that has word syntax (@pxref{Syntax Class |
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444 Table}). |
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445 @item [:xdigit:] |
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446 This matches the hexadecimal digits: @samp{0} through @samp{9}, @samp{a} |
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447 through @samp{f} and @samp{A} through @samp{F}. |
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448 @end table |
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449 |
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450 @node Regexp Backslash |
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451 @subsubsection Backslash Constructs in Regular Expressions |
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452 |
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453 For the most part, @samp{\} followed by any character matches only |
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454 that character. However, there are several exceptions: certain |
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455 two-character sequences starting with @samp{\} that have special |
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456 meanings. (The character after the @samp{\} in such a sequence is |
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457 always ordinary when used on its own.) Here is a table of the special |
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458 @samp{\} constructs. |
6552 | 459 |
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460 @table @samp |
6552 | 461 @item \| |
462 @cindex @samp{|} in regexp | |
463 @cindex regexp alternative | |
464 specifies an alternative. | |
465 Two regular expressions @var{a} and @var{b} with @samp{\|} in | |
466 between form an expression that matches anything that either @var{a} or | |
467 @var{b} matches.@refill | |
468 | |
469 Thus, @samp{foo\|bar} matches either @samp{foo} or @samp{bar} | |
470 but no other string.@refill | |
471 | |
472 @samp{\|} applies to the largest possible surrounding expressions. Only a | |
473 surrounding @samp{\( @dots{} \)} grouping can limit the grouping power of | |
474 @samp{\|}.@refill | |
475 | |
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476 Full backtracking capability exists to handle multiple uses of |
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477 @samp{\|}, if you use the POSIX regular expression functions |
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478 (@pxref{POSIX Regexps}). |
6552 | 479 |
480 @item \( @dots{} \) | |
481 @cindex @samp{(} in regexp | |
482 @cindex @samp{)} in regexp | |
483 @cindex regexp grouping | |
484 is a grouping construct that serves three purposes: | |
485 | |
486 @enumerate | |
487 @item | |
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488 To enclose a set of @samp{\|} alternatives for other operations. Thus, |
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489 the regular expression @samp{\(foo\|bar\)x} matches either @samp{foox} |
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490 or @samp{barx}. |
6552 | 491 |
492 @item | |
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493 To enclose a complicated expression for the postfix operators @samp{*}, |
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494 @samp{+} and @samp{?} to operate on. Thus, @samp{ba\(na\)*} matches |
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495 @samp{ba}, @samp{bana}, @samp{banana}, @samp{bananana}, etc., with any |
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496 number (zero or more) of @samp{na} strings. |
6552 | 497 |
498 @item | |
499 To record a matched substring for future reference. | |
500 @end enumerate | |
501 | |
502 This last application is not a consequence of the idea of a | |
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503 parenthetical grouping; it is a separate feature that happens to be |
6552 | 504 assigned as a second meaning to the same @samp{\( @dots{} \)} construct |
505 because there is no conflict in practice between the two meanings. | |
506 Here is an explanation of this feature: | |
507 | |
508 @item \@var{digit} | |
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509 matches the same text that matched the @var{digit}th occurrence of a |
6552 | 510 @samp{\( @dots{} \)} construct. |
511 | |
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512 In other words, after the end of a @samp{\( @dots{} \)} construct, the |
6552 | 513 matcher remembers the beginning and end of the text matched by that |
514 construct. Then, later on in the regular expression, you can use | |
515 @samp{\} followed by @var{digit} to match that same text, whatever it | |
516 may have been. | |
517 | |
518 The strings matching the first nine @samp{\( @dots{} \)} constructs | |
519 appearing in a regular expression are assigned numbers 1 through 9 in | |
520 the order that the open parentheses appear in the regular expression. | |
521 So you can use @samp{\1} through @samp{\9} to refer to the text matched | |
522 by the corresponding @samp{\( @dots{} \)} constructs. | |
523 | |
524 For example, @samp{\(.*\)\1} matches any newline-free string that is | |
525 composed of two identical halves. The @samp{\(.*\)} matches the first | |
526 half, which may be anything, but the @samp{\1} that follows must match | |
527 the same exact text. | |
528 | |
529 @item \w | |
530 @cindex @samp{\w} in regexp | |
531 matches any word-constituent character. The editor syntax table | |
532 determines which characters these are. @xref{Syntax Tables}. | |
533 | |
534 @item \W | |
535 @cindex @samp{\W} in regexp | |
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536 matches any character that is not a word constituent. |
6552 | 537 |
538 @item \s@var{code} | |
539 @cindex @samp{\s} in regexp | |
540 matches any character whose syntax is @var{code}. Here @var{code} is a | |
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541 character that represents a syntax code: thus, @samp{w} for word |
6552 | 542 constituent, @samp{-} for whitespace, @samp{(} for open parenthesis, |
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543 etc. To represent whitespace syntax, use either @samp{-} or a space |
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544 character. @xref{Syntax Class Table}, for a list of syntax codes and |
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545 the characters that stand for them. |
6552 | 546 |
547 @item \S@var{code} | |
548 @cindex @samp{\S} in regexp | |
549 matches any character whose syntax is not @var{code}. | |
550 @end table | |
551 | |
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552 The following regular expression constructs match the empty string---that is, |
6552 | 553 they don't use up any characters---but whether they match depends on the |
554 context. | |
555 | |
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556 @table @samp |
6552 | 557 @item \` |
558 @cindex @samp{\`} in regexp | |
559 matches the empty string, but only at the beginning | |
560 of the buffer or string being matched against. | |
561 | |
562 @item \' | |
563 @cindex @samp{\'} in regexp | |
564 matches the empty string, but only at the end of | |
565 the buffer or string being matched against. | |
566 | |
567 @item \= | |
568 @cindex @samp{\=} in regexp | |
569 matches the empty string, but only at point. | |
570 (This construct is not defined when matching against a string.) | |
571 | |
572 @item \b | |
573 @cindex @samp{\b} in regexp | |
574 matches the empty string, but only at the beginning or | |
575 end of a word. Thus, @samp{\bfoo\b} matches any occurrence of | |
576 @samp{foo} as a separate word. @samp{\bballs?\b} matches | |
577 @samp{ball} or @samp{balls} as a separate word.@refill | |
578 | |
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579 @samp{\b} matches at the beginning or end of the buffer |
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580 regardless of what text appears next to it. |
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581 |
6552 | 582 @item \B |
583 @cindex @samp{\B} in regexp | |
584 matches the empty string, but @emph{not} at the beginning or | |
585 end of a word. | |
586 | |
587 @item \< | |
588 @cindex @samp{\<} in regexp | |
589 matches the empty string, but only at the beginning of a word. | |
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590 @samp{\<} matches at the beginning of the buffer only if a |
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591 word-constituent character follows. |
6552 | 592 |
593 @item \> | |
594 @cindex @samp{\>} in regexp | |
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595 matches the empty string, but only at the end of a word. @samp{\>} |
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596 matches at the end of the buffer only if the contents end with a |
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597 word-constituent character. |
6552 | 598 @end table |
599 | |
600 @kindex invalid-regexp | |
601 Not every string is a valid regular expression. For example, a string | |
602 with unbalanced square brackets is invalid (with a few exceptions, such | |
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603 as @samp{[]]}), and so is a string that ends with a single @samp{\}. If |
6552 | 604 an invalid regular expression is passed to any of the search functions, |
605 an @code{invalid-regexp} error is signaled. | |
606 | |
607 @node Regexp Example | |
608 @comment node-name, next, previous, up | |
609 @subsection Complex Regexp Example | |
610 | |
611 Here is a complicated regexp, used by Emacs to recognize the end of a | |
612 sentence together with any whitespace that follows. It is the value of | |
613 the variable @code{sentence-end}. | |
614 | |
615 First, we show the regexp as a string in Lisp syntax to distinguish | |
616 spaces from tab characters. The string constant begins and ends with a | |
617 double-quote. @samp{\"} stands for a double-quote as part of the | |
618 string, @samp{\\} for a backslash as part of the string, @samp{\t} for a | |
619 tab and @samp{\n} for a newline. | |
620 | |
621 @example | |
622 "[.?!][]\"')@}]*\\($\\| $\\|\t\\| \\)[ \t\n]*" | |
623 @end example | |
624 | |
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625 @noindent |
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626 In contrast, if you evaluate the variable @code{sentence-end}, you |
6552 | 627 will see the following: |
628 | |
629 @example | |
630 @group | |
631 sentence-end | |
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632 @result{} "[.?!][]\"')@}]*\\($\\| $\\| \\| \\)[ |
6552 | 633 ]*" |
634 @end group | |
635 @end example | |
636 | |
637 @noindent | |
638 In this output, tab and newline appear as themselves. | |
639 | |
640 This regular expression contains four parts in succession and can be | |
641 deciphered as follows: | |
642 | |
643 @table @code | |
644 @item [.?!] | |
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645 The first part of the pattern is a character alternative that matches |
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646 any one of three characters: period, question mark, and exclamation |
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647 mark. The match must begin with one of these three characters. |
6552 | 648 |
649 @item []\"')@}]* | |
650 The second part of the pattern matches any closing braces and quotation | |
651 marks, zero or more of them, that may follow the period, question mark | |
652 or exclamation mark. The @code{\"} is Lisp syntax for a double-quote in | |
653 a string. The @samp{*} at the end indicates that the immediately | |
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654 preceding regular expression (a character alternative, in this case) may be |
6552 | 655 repeated zero or more times. |
656 | |
8469 | 657 @item \\($\\|@ $\\|\t\\|@ @ \\) |
6552 | 658 The third part of the pattern matches the whitespace that follows the |
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659 end of a sentence: the end of a line (optionally with a space), or a |
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660 tab, or two spaces. The double backslashes mark the parentheses and |
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661 vertical bars as regular expression syntax; the parentheses delimit a |
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662 group and the vertical bars separate alternatives. The dollar sign is |
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663 used to match the end of a line. |
6552 | 664 |
665 @item [ \t\n]* | |
666 Finally, the last part of the pattern matches any additional whitespace | |
667 beyond the minimum needed to end a sentence. | |
668 @end table | |
669 | |
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670 @node Regexp Functions |
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671 @subsection Regular Expression Functions |
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672 |
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673 These functions operate on regular expressions. |
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674 |
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675 @defun regexp-quote string |
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676 This function returns a regular expression whose only exact match is |
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677 @var{string}. Using this regular expression in @code{looking-at} will |
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678 succeed only if the next characters in the buffer are @var{string}; |
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679 using it in a search function will succeed if the text being searched |
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680 contains @var{string}. |
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681 |
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682 This allows you to request an exact string match or search when calling |
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683 a function that wants a regular expression. |
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684 |
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685 @example |
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686 @group |
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687 (regexp-quote "^The cat$") |
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688 @result{} "\\^The cat\\$" |
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689 @end group |
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690 @end example |
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691 |
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692 One use of @code{regexp-quote} is to combine an exact string match with |
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693 context described as a regular expression. For example, this searches |
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694 for the string that is the value of @var{string}, surrounded by |
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695 whitespace: |
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696 |
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697 @example |
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698 @group |
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699 (re-search-forward |
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700 (concat "\\s-" (regexp-quote string) "\\s-")) |
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701 @end group |
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702 @end example |
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703 @end defun |
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704 |
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705 @defun regexp-opt strings &optional paren |
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706 This function returns an efficient regular expression that will match |
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707 any of the strings @var{strings}. This is useful when you need to make |
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708 matching or searching as fast as possible---for example, for Font Lock |
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709 mode. |
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710 |
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711 If the optional argument @var{paren} is non-@code{nil}, then the |
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712 returned regular expression is always enclosed by at least one |
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713 parentheses-grouping construct. |
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714 |
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715 This simplified definition of @code{regexp-opt} produces a |
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716 regular expression which is equivalent to the actual value |
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717 (but not as efficient): |
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718 |
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719 @example |
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720 (defun regexp-opt (strings paren) |
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721 (let ((open-paren (if paren "\\(" "")) |
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722 (close-paren (if paren "\\)" ""))) |
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723 (concat open-paren |
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724 (mapconcat 'regexp-quote strings "\\|") |
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725 close-paren))) |
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726 @end example |
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727 @end defun |
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728 |
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729 @defun regexp-opt-depth regexp |
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730 This function returns the total number of grouping constructs |
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731 (parenthesized expressions) in @var{regexp}. |
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732 @end defun |
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733 |
6552 | 734 @node Regexp Search |
735 @section Regular Expression Searching | |
736 @cindex regular expression searching | |
737 @cindex regexp searching | |
738 @cindex searching for regexp | |
739 | |
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740 In GNU Emacs, you can search for the next match for a regular |
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741 expression either incrementally or not. For incremental search |
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742 commands, see @ref{Regexp Search, , Regular Expression Search, emacs, |
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743 The GNU Emacs Manual}. Here we describe only the search functions |
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744 useful in programs. The principal one is @code{re-search-forward}. |
6552 | 745 |
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746 These search functions convert the regular expression to multibyte if |
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747 the buffer is multibyte; they convert the regular expression to unibyte |
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748 if the buffer is unibyte. @xref{Text Representations}. |
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749 |
6552 | 750 @deffn Command re-search-forward regexp &optional limit noerror repeat |
751 This function searches forward in the current buffer for a string of | |
752 text that is matched by the regular expression @var{regexp}. The | |
753 function skips over any amount of text that is not matched by | |
754 @var{regexp}, and leaves point at the end of the first match found. | |
755 It returns the new value of point. | |
756 | |
757 If @var{limit} is non-@code{nil} (it must be a position in the current | |
758 buffer), then it is the upper bound to the search. No match extending | |
759 after that position is accepted. | |
760 | |
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761 If @var{repeat} is supplied (it must be a positive number), then the |
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762 search is repeated that many times (each time starting at the end of the |
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763 previous time's match). If all these successive searches succeed, the |
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764 function succeeds, moving point and returning its new value. Otherwise |
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765 the function fails. |
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766 |
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767 What happens when the function fails depends on the value of |
6552 | 768 @var{noerror}. If @var{noerror} is @code{nil}, a @code{search-failed} |
769 error is signaled. If @var{noerror} is @code{t}, | |
770 @code{re-search-forward} does nothing and returns @code{nil}. If | |
771 @var{noerror} is neither @code{nil} nor @code{t}, then | |
772 @code{re-search-forward} moves point to @var{limit} (or the end of the | |
773 buffer) and returns @code{nil}. | |
774 | |
775 In the following example, point is initially before the @samp{T}. | |
776 Evaluating the search call moves point to the end of that line (between | |
777 the @samp{t} of @samp{hat} and the newline). | |
778 | |
779 @example | |
780 @group | |
781 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
782 I read "@point{}The cat in the hat | |
783 comes back" twice. | |
784 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
785 @end group | |
786 | |
787 @group | |
788 (re-search-forward "[a-z]+" nil t 5) | |
789 @result{} 27 | |
790 | |
791 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
792 I read "The cat in the hat@point{} | |
793 comes back" twice. | |
794 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
795 @end group | |
796 @end example | |
797 @end deffn | |
798 | |
799 @deffn Command re-search-backward regexp &optional limit noerror repeat | |
800 This function searches backward in the current buffer for a string of | |
801 text that is matched by the regular expression @var{regexp}, leaving | |
802 point at the beginning of the first text found. | |
803 | |
8469 | 804 This function is analogous to @code{re-search-forward}, but they are not |
805 simple mirror images. @code{re-search-forward} finds the match whose | |
806 beginning is as close as possible to the starting point. If | |
807 @code{re-search-backward} were a perfect mirror image, it would find the | |
808 match whose end is as close as possible. However, in fact it finds the | |
25089 | 809 match whose beginning is as close as possible. The reason for this is that |
8469 | 810 matching a regular expression at a given spot always works from |
811 beginning to end, and starts at a specified beginning position. | |
6552 | 812 |
813 A true mirror-image of @code{re-search-forward} would require a special | |
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814 feature for matching regular expressions from end to beginning. It's |
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815 not worth the trouble of implementing that. |
6552 | 816 @end deffn |
817 | |
818 @defun string-match regexp string &optional start | |
819 This function returns the index of the start of the first match for | |
820 the regular expression @var{regexp} in @var{string}, or @code{nil} if | |
821 there is no match. If @var{start} is non-@code{nil}, the search starts | |
822 at that index in @var{string}. | |
823 | |
824 For example, | |
825 | |
826 @example | |
827 @group | |
828 (string-match | |
829 "quick" "The quick brown fox jumped quickly.") | |
830 @result{} 4 | |
831 @end group | |
832 @group | |
833 (string-match | |
834 "quick" "The quick brown fox jumped quickly." 8) | |
835 @result{} 27 | |
836 @end group | |
837 @end example | |
838 | |
839 @noindent | |
840 The index of the first character of the | |
841 string is 0, the index of the second character is 1, and so on. | |
842 | |
843 After this function returns, the index of the first character beyond | |
844 the match is available as @code{(match-end 0)}. @xref{Match Data}. | |
845 | |
846 @example | |
847 @group | |
848 (string-match | |
849 "quick" "The quick brown fox jumped quickly." 8) | |
850 @result{} 27 | |
851 @end group | |
852 | |
853 @group | |
854 (match-end 0) | |
855 @result{} 32 | |
856 @end group | |
857 @end example | |
858 @end defun | |
859 | |
860 @defun looking-at regexp | |
861 This function determines whether the text in the current buffer directly | |
862 following point matches the regular expression @var{regexp}. ``Directly | |
863 following'' means precisely that: the search is ``anchored'' and it can | |
864 succeed only starting with the first character following point. The | |
865 result is @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise. | |
866 | |
867 This function does not move point, but it updates the match data, which | |
868 you can access using @code{match-beginning} and @code{match-end}. | |
869 @xref{Match Data}. | |
870 | |
871 In this example, point is located directly before the @samp{T}. If it | |
872 were anywhere else, the result would be @code{nil}. | |
873 | |
874 @example | |
875 @group | |
876 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
877 I read "@point{}The cat in the hat | |
878 comes back" twice. | |
879 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
880 | |
881 (looking-at "The cat in the hat$") | |
882 @result{} t | |
883 @end group | |
884 @end example | |
885 @end defun | |
886 | |
12067 | 887 @node POSIX Regexps |
888 @section POSIX Regular Expression Searching | |
889 | |
890 The usual regular expression functions do backtracking when necessary | |
891 to handle the @samp{\|} and repetition constructs, but they continue | |
892 this only until they find @emph{some} match. Then they succeed and | |
893 report the first match found. | |
894 | |
895 This section describes alternative search functions which perform the | |
896 full backtracking specified by the POSIX standard for regular expression | |
897 matching. They continue backtracking until they have tried all | |
898 possibilities and found all matches, so they can report the longest | |
899 match, as required by POSIX. This is much slower, so use these | |
900 functions only when you really need the longest match. | |
901 | |
902 @defun posix-search-forward regexp &optional limit noerror repeat | |
903 This is like @code{re-search-forward} except that it performs the full | |
904 backtracking specified by the POSIX standard for regular expression | |
905 matching. | |
906 @end defun | |
907 | |
908 @defun posix-search-backward regexp &optional limit noerror repeat | |
909 This is like @code{re-search-backward} except that it performs the full | |
910 backtracking specified by the POSIX standard for regular expression | |
911 matching. | |
912 @end defun | |
913 | |
914 @defun posix-looking-at regexp | |
915 This is like @code{looking-at} except that it performs the full | |
916 backtracking specified by the POSIX standard for regular expression | |
917 matching. | |
918 @end defun | |
919 | |
920 @defun posix-string-match regexp string &optional start | |
921 This is like @code{string-match} except that it performs the full | |
922 backtracking specified by the POSIX standard for regular expression | |
923 matching. | |
924 @end defun | |
925 | |
6552 | 926 @ignore |
927 @deffn Command delete-matching-lines regexp | |
928 This function is identical to @code{delete-non-matching-lines}, save | |
929 that it deletes what @code{delete-non-matching-lines} keeps. | |
930 | |
931 In the example below, point is located on the first line of text. | |
932 | |
933 @example | |
934 @group | |
935 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
936 We hold these truths | |
937 to be self-evident, | |
938 that all men are created | |
939 equal, and that they are | |
940 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
941 @end group | |
942 | |
943 @group | |
944 (delete-matching-lines "the") | |
945 @result{} nil | |
946 | |
947 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
948 to be self-evident, | |
949 that all men are created | |
950 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
951 @end group | |
952 @end example | |
953 @end deffn | |
954 | |
955 @deffn Command flush-lines regexp | |
956 This function is the same as @code{delete-matching-lines}. | |
957 @end deffn | |
958 | |
959 @defun delete-non-matching-lines regexp | |
960 This function deletes all lines following point which don't | |
961 contain a match for the regular expression @var{regexp}. | |
962 @end defun | |
963 | |
964 @deffn Command keep-lines regexp | |
965 This function is the same as @code{delete-non-matching-lines}. | |
966 @end deffn | |
967 | |
968 @deffn Command how-many regexp | |
969 This function counts the number of matches for @var{regexp} there are in | |
970 the current buffer following point. It prints this number in | |
971 the echo area, returning the string printed. | |
972 @end deffn | |
973 | |
974 @deffn Command count-matches regexp | |
975 This function is a synonym of @code{how-many}. | |
976 @end deffn | |
977 | |
26288 | 978 @deffn Command list-matching-lines regexp &optional nlines |
6552 | 979 This function is a synonym of @code{occur}. |
980 Show all lines following point containing a match for @var{regexp}. | |
981 Display each line with @var{nlines} lines before and after, | |
982 or @code{-}@var{nlines} before if @var{nlines} is negative. | |
983 @var{nlines} defaults to @code{list-matching-lines-default-context-lines}. | |
984 Interactively it is the prefix arg. | |
985 | |
986 The lines are shown in a buffer named @samp{*Occur*}. | |
987 It serves as a menu to find any of the occurrences in this buffer. | |
24934 | 988 @kbd{C-h m} (@code{describe-mode}) in that buffer gives help. |
6552 | 989 @end deffn |
990 | |
991 @defopt list-matching-lines-default-context-lines | |
992 Default value is 0. | |
993 Default number of context lines to include around a @code{list-matching-lines} | |
994 match. A negative number means to include that many lines before the match. | |
995 A positive number means to include that many lines both before and after. | |
996 @end defopt | |
997 @end ignore | |
998 | |
999 @node Search and Replace | |
1000 @section Search and Replace | |
1001 @cindex replacement | |
1002 | |
1003 @defun perform-replace from-string replacements query-flag regexp-flag delimited-flag &optional repeat-count map | |
1004 This function is the guts of @code{query-replace} and related commands. | |
1005 It searches for occurrences of @var{from-string} and replaces some or | |
1006 all of them. If @var{query-flag} is @code{nil}, it replaces all | |
1007 occurrences; otherwise, it asks the user what to do about each one. | |
1008 | |
1009 If @var{regexp-flag} is non-@code{nil}, then @var{from-string} is | |
1010 considered a regular expression; otherwise, it must match literally. If | |
1011 @var{delimited-flag} is non-@code{nil}, then only replacements | |
1012 surrounded by word boundaries are considered. | |
1013 | |
1014 The argument @var{replacements} specifies what to replace occurrences | |
1015 with. If it is a string, that string is used. It can also be a list of | |
1016 strings, to be used in cyclic order. | |
1017 | |
26783 | 1018 If @var{replacements} is a cons cell, @code{(@var{function} |
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1019 . @var{data})}, this means to call @var{function} after each match to |
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1020 get the replacement text. This function is called with two arguments: |
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1021 @var{data}, and the number of replacements already made. |
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1022 |
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1023 If @var{repeat-count} is non-@code{nil}, it should be an integer. Then |
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1024 it specifies how many times to use each of the strings in the |
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1025 @var{replacements} list before advancing cyclicly to the next one. |
6552 | 1026 |
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1027 If @var{from-string} contains upper-case letters, then |
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1028 @code{perform-replace} binds @code{case-fold-search} to @code{nil}, and |
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1029 it uses the @code{replacements} without altering the case of them. |
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1030 |
6552 | 1031 Normally, the keymap @code{query-replace-map} defines the possible user |
8469 | 1032 responses for queries. The argument @var{map}, if non-@code{nil}, is a |
1033 keymap to use instead of @code{query-replace-map}. | |
6552 | 1034 @end defun |
1035 | |
1036 @defvar query-replace-map | |
1037 This variable holds a special keymap that defines the valid user | |
1038 responses for @code{query-replace} and related functions, as well as | |
1039 @code{y-or-n-p} and @code{map-y-or-n-p}. It is unusual in two ways: | |
1040 | |
1041 @itemize @bullet | |
1042 @item | |
1043 The ``key bindings'' are not commands, just symbols that are meaningful | |
1044 to the functions that use this map. | |
1045 | |
1046 @item | |
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1047 Prefix keys are not supported; each key binding must be for a |
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1048 single-event key sequence. This is because the functions don't use |
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1049 @code{read-key-sequence} to get the input; instead, they read a single |
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1050 event and look it up ``by hand.'' |
6552 | 1051 @end itemize |
1052 @end defvar | |
1053 | |
1054 Here are the meaningful ``bindings'' for @code{query-replace-map}. | |
1055 Several of them are meaningful only for @code{query-replace} and | |
1056 friends. | |
1057 | |
1058 @table @code | |
1059 @item act | |
1060 Do take the action being considered---in other words, ``yes.'' | |
1061 | |
1062 @item skip | |
1063 Do not take action for this question---in other words, ``no.'' | |
1064 | |
1065 @item exit | |
8469 | 1066 Answer this question ``no,'' and give up on the entire series of |
1067 questions, assuming that the answers will be ``no.'' | |
6552 | 1068 |
1069 @item act-and-exit | |
8469 | 1070 Answer this question ``yes,'' and give up on the entire series of |
1071 questions, assuming that subsequent answers will be ``no.'' | |
6552 | 1072 |
1073 @item act-and-show | |
1074 Answer this question ``yes,'' but show the results---don't advance yet | |
1075 to the next question. | |
1076 | |
1077 @item automatic | |
1078 Answer this question and all subsequent questions in the series with | |
1079 ``yes,'' without further user interaction. | |
1080 | |
1081 @item backup | |
1082 Move back to the previous place that a question was asked about. | |
1083 | |
1084 @item edit | |
1085 Enter a recursive edit to deal with this question---instead of any | |
1086 other action that would normally be taken. | |
1087 | |
1088 @item delete-and-edit | |
1089 Delete the text being considered, then enter a recursive edit to replace | |
1090 it. | |
1091 | |
1092 @item recenter | |
1093 Redisplay and center the window, then ask the same question again. | |
1094 | |
1095 @item quit | |
1096 Perform a quit right away. Only @code{y-or-n-p} and related functions | |
1097 use this answer. | |
1098 | |
1099 @item help | |
1100 Display some help, then ask again. | |
1101 @end table | |
1102 | |
1103 @node Match Data | |
1104 @section The Match Data | |
1105 @cindex match data | |
1106 | |
25089 | 1107 Emacs keeps track of the start and end positions of the segments of |
6552 | 1108 text found during a regular expression search. This means, for example, |
1109 that you can search for a complex pattern, such as a date in an Rmail | |
1110 message, and then extract parts of the match under control of the | |
1111 pattern. | |
1112 | |
1113 Because the match data normally describe the most recent search only, | |
1114 you must be careful not to do another search inadvertently between the | |
1115 search you wish to refer back to and the use of the match data. If you | |
1116 can't avoid another intervening search, you must save and restore the | |
1117 match data around it, to prevent it from being overwritten. | |
1118 | |
1119 @menu | |
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1120 * Replacing Match:: Replacing a substring that was matched. |
6552 | 1121 * Simple Match Data:: Accessing single items of match data, |
1122 such as where a particular subexpression started. | |
1123 * Entire Match Data:: Accessing the entire match data at once, as a list. | |
1124 * Saving Match Data:: Saving and restoring the match data. | |
1125 @end menu | |
1126 | |
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1127 @node Replacing Match |
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1128 @subsection Replacing the Text that Matched |
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1129 |
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1130 This function replaces the text matched by the last search with |
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1131 @var{replacement}. |
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1132 |
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1133 @cindex case in replacements |
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1134 @defun replace-match replacement &optional fixedcase literal string subexp |
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1135 This function replaces the text in the buffer (or in @var{string}) that |
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1136 was matched by the last search. It replaces that text with |
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1137 @var{replacement}. |
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1138 |
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1139 If you did the last search in a buffer, you should specify @code{nil} |
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1140 for @var{string}. Then @code{replace-match} does the replacement by |
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1141 editing the buffer; it leaves point at the end of the replacement text, |
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1142 and returns @code{t}. |
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1143 |
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1144 If you did the search in a string, pass the same string as @var{string}. |
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1145 Then @code{replace-match} does the replacement by constructing and |
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1146 returning a new string. |
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1147 |
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1148 If @var{fixedcase} is non-@code{nil}, then the case of the replacement |
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1149 text is not changed; otherwise, the replacement text is converted to a |
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1150 different case depending upon the capitalization of the text to be |
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1151 replaced. If the original text is all upper case, the replacement text |
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1152 is converted to upper case. If the first word of the original text is |
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1153 capitalized, then the first word of the replacement text is capitalized. |
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1154 If the original text contains just one word, and that word is a capital |
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1155 letter, @code{replace-match} considers this a capitalized first word |
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1156 rather than all upper case. |
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1157 |
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1158 If @var{literal} is non-@code{nil}, then @var{replacement} is inserted |
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1159 exactly as it is, the only alterations being case changes as needed. |
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1160 If it is @code{nil} (the default), then the character @samp{\} is treated |
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1161 specially. If a @samp{\} appears in @var{replacement}, then it must be |
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1162 part of one of the following sequences: |
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1163 |
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1164 @table @asis |
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1165 @item @samp{\&} |
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1166 @cindex @samp{&} in replacement |
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1167 @samp{\&} stands for the entire text being replaced. |
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1168 |
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1169 @item @samp{\@var{n}} |
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1170 @cindex @samp{\@var{n}} in replacement |
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1171 @samp{\@var{n}}, where @var{n} is a digit, stands for the text that |
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1172 matched the @var{n}th subexpression in the original regexp. |
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1173 Subexpressions are those expressions grouped inside @samp{\(@dots{}\)}. |
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1174 |
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1175 @item @samp{\\} |
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1176 @cindex @samp{\} in replacement |
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1177 @samp{\\} stands for a single @samp{\} in the replacement text. |
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1178 @end table |
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1179 |
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1180 If @var{subexp} is non-@code{nil}, that says to replace just |
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1181 subexpression number @var{subexp} of the regexp that was matched, not |
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1182 the entire match. For example, after matching @samp{foo \(ba*r\)}, |
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1183 calling @code{replace-match} with 1 as @var{subexp} means to replace |
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1184 just the text that matched @samp{\(ba*r\)}. |
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1185 @end defun |
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1186 |
6552 | 1187 @node Simple Match Data |
1188 @subsection Simple Match Data Access | |
1189 | |
12067 | 1190 This section explains how to use the match data to find out what was |
1191 matched by the last search or match operation. | |
1192 | |
1193 You can ask about the entire matching text, or about a particular | |
1194 parenthetical subexpression of a regular expression. The @var{count} | |
1195 argument in the functions below specifies which. If @var{count} is | |
1196 zero, you are asking about the entire match. If @var{count} is | |
1197 positive, it specifies which subexpression you want. | |
1198 | |
1199 Recall that the subexpressions of a regular expression are those | |
1200 expressions grouped with escaped parentheses, @samp{\(@dots{}\)}. The | |
1201 @var{count}th subexpression is found by counting occurrences of | |
1202 @samp{\(} from the beginning of the whole regular expression. The first | |
1203 subexpression is numbered 1, the second 2, and so on. Only regular | |
1204 expressions can have subexpressions---after a simple string search, the | |
1205 only information available is about the entire match. | |
1206 | |
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1207 A search which fails may or may not alter the match data. In the |
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1208 past, a failing search did not do this, but we may change it in the |
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1209 future. |
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1210 |
12067 | 1211 @defun match-string count &optional in-string |
1212 This function returns, as a string, the text matched in the last search | |
1213 or match operation. It returns the entire text if @var{count} is zero, | |
1214 or just the portion corresponding to the @var{count}th parenthetical | |
1215 subexpression, if @var{count} is positive. If @var{count} is out of | |
12098 | 1216 range, or if that subexpression didn't match anything, the value is |
1217 @code{nil}. | |
12067 | 1218 |
1219 If the last such operation was done against a string with | |
1220 @code{string-match}, then you should pass the same string as the | |
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1221 argument @var{in-string}. After a buffer search or match, |
12067 | 1222 you should omit @var{in-string} or pass @code{nil} for it; but you |
1223 should make sure that the current buffer when you call | |
1224 @code{match-string} is the one in which you did the searching or | |
1225 matching. | |
1226 @end defun | |
6552 | 1227 |
26288 | 1228 @defun match-string-no-properties count &optional in-string |
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1229 This function is like @code{match-string} except that the result |
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1230 has no text properties. |
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1231 @end defun |
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1232 |
6552 | 1233 @defun match-beginning count |
1234 This function returns the position of the start of text matched by the | |
1235 last regular expression searched for, or a subexpression of it. | |
1236 | |
8469 | 1237 If @var{count} is zero, then the value is the position of the start of |
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1238 the entire match. Otherwise, @var{count} specifies a subexpression in |
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1239 the regular expression, and the value of the function is the starting |
12067 | 1240 position of the match for that subexpression. |
6552 | 1241 |
12067 | 1242 The value is @code{nil} for a subexpression inside a @samp{\|} |
1243 alternative that wasn't used in the match. | |
6552 | 1244 @end defun |
1245 | |
1246 @defun match-end count | |
12067 | 1247 This function is like @code{match-beginning} except that it returns the |
1248 position of the end of the match, rather than the position of the | |
1249 beginning. | |
6552 | 1250 @end defun |
1251 | |
1252 Here is an example of using the match data, with a comment showing the | |
1253 positions within the text: | |
1254 | |
1255 @example | |
1256 @group | |
1257 (string-match "\\(qu\\)\\(ick\\)" | |
1258 "The quick fox jumped quickly.") | |
1259 ;0123456789 | |
1260 @result{} 4 | |
1261 @end group | |
1262 | |
1263 @group | |
12067 | 1264 (match-string 0 "The quick fox jumped quickly.") |
1265 @result{} "quick" | |
1266 (match-string 1 "The quick fox jumped quickly.") | |
1267 @result{} "qu" | |
1268 (match-string 2 "The quick fox jumped quickly.") | |
1269 @result{} "ick" | |
1270 @end group | |
1271 | |
1272 @group | |
6552 | 1273 (match-beginning 1) ; @r{The beginning of the match} |
1274 @result{} 4 ; @r{with @samp{qu} is at index 4.} | |
1275 @end group | |
1276 | |
1277 @group | |
1278 (match-beginning 2) ; @r{The beginning of the match} | |
1279 @result{} 6 ; @r{with @samp{ick} is at index 6.} | |
1280 @end group | |
1281 | |
1282 @group | |
1283 (match-end 1) ; @r{The end of the match} | |
1284 @result{} 6 ; @r{with @samp{qu} is at index 6.} | |
1285 | |
1286 (match-end 2) ; @r{The end of the match} | |
1287 @result{} 9 ; @r{with @samp{ick} is at index 9.} | |
1288 @end group | |
1289 @end example | |
1290 | |
1291 Here is another example. Point is initially located at the beginning | |
1292 of the line. Searching moves point to between the space and the word | |
1293 @samp{in}. The beginning of the entire match is at the 9th character of | |
1294 the buffer (@samp{T}), and the beginning of the match for the first | |
1295 subexpression is at the 13th character (@samp{c}). | |
1296 | |
1297 @example | |
1298 @group | |
1299 (list | |
1300 (re-search-forward "The \\(cat \\)") | |
1301 (match-beginning 0) | |
1302 (match-beginning 1)) | |
8469 | 1303 @result{} (9 9 13) |
6552 | 1304 @end group |
1305 | |
1306 @group | |
1307 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
1308 I read "The cat @point{}in the hat comes back" twice. | |
1309 ^ ^ | |
1310 9 13 | |
1311 ---------- Buffer: foo ---------- | |
1312 @end group | |
1313 @end example | |
1314 | |
1315 @noindent | |
1316 (In this case, the index returned is a buffer position; the first | |
1317 character of the buffer counts as 1.) | |
1318 | |
1319 @node Entire Match Data | |
1320 @subsection Accessing the Entire Match Data | |
1321 | |
1322 The functions @code{match-data} and @code{set-match-data} read or | |
1323 write the entire match data, all at once. | |
1324 | |
1325 @defun match-data | |
1326 This function returns a newly constructed list containing all the | |
1327 information on what text the last search matched. Element zero is the | |
1328 position of the beginning of the match for the whole expression; element | |
1329 one is the position of the end of the match for the expression. The | |
1330 next two elements are the positions of the beginning and end of the | |
1331 match for the first subexpression, and so on. In general, element | |
27193 | 1332 @ifnottex |
6552 | 1333 number 2@var{n} |
27193 | 1334 @end ifnottex |
6552 | 1335 @tex |
1336 number {\mathsurround=0pt $2n$} | |
1337 @end tex | |
1338 corresponds to @code{(match-beginning @var{n})}; and | |
1339 element | |
27193 | 1340 @ifnottex |
6552 | 1341 number 2@var{n} + 1 |
27193 | 1342 @end ifnottex |
6552 | 1343 @tex |
1344 number {\mathsurround=0pt $2n+1$} | |
1345 @end tex | |
1346 corresponds to @code{(match-end @var{n})}. | |
1347 | |
1348 All the elements are markers or @code{nil} if matching was done on a | |
1349 buffer, and all are integers or @code{nil} if matching was done on a | |
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1350 string with @code{string-match}. |
6552 | 1351 |
1352 As always, there must be no possibility of intervening searches between | |
1353 the call to a search function and the call to @code{match-data} that is | |
1354 intended to access the match data for that search. | |
1355 | |
1356 @example | |
1357 @group | |
1358 (match-data) | |
1359 @result{} (#<marker at 9 in foo> | |
1360 #<marker at 17 in foo> | |
1361 #<marker at 13 in foo> | |
1362 #<marker at 17 in foo>) | |
1363 @end group | |
1364 @end example | |
1365 @end defun | |
1366 | |
1367 @defun set-match-data match-list | |
1368 This function sets the match data from the elements of @var{match-list}, | |
1369 which should be a list that was the value of a previous call to | |
1370 @code{match-data}. | |
1371 | |
1372 If @var{match-list} refers to a buffer that doesn't exist, you don't get | |
1373 an error; that sets the match data in a meaningless but harmless way. | |
1374 | |
1375 @findex store-match-data | |
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1376 @code{store-match-data} is a semi-obsolete alias for @code{set-match-data}. |
6552 | 1377 @end defun |
1378 | |
1379 @node Saving Match Data | |
1380 @subsection Saving and Restoring the Match Data | |
1381 | |
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1382 When you call a function that may do a search, you may need to save |
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1383 and restore the match data around that call, if you want to preserve the |
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1384 match data from an earlier search for later use. Here is an example |
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1385 that shows the problem that arises if you fail to save the match data: |
6552 | 1386 |
1387 @example | |
1388 @group | |
1389 (re-search-forward "The \\(cat \\)") | |
1390 @result{} 48 | |
1391 (foo) ; @r{Perhaps @code{foo} does} | |
1392 ; @r{more searching.} | |
1393 (match-end 0) | |
1394 @result{} 61 ; @r{Unexpected result---not 48!} | |
1395 @end group | |
1396 @end example | |
1397 | |
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1398 You can save and restore the match data with @code{save-match-data}: |
6552 | 1399 |
12098 | 1400 @defmac save-match-data body@dots{} |
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1401 This macro executes @var{body}, saving and restoring the match |
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1402 data around it. |
12098 | 1403 @end defmac |
6552 | 1404 |
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1405 You could use @code{set-match-data} together with @code{match-data} to |
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1406 imitate the effect of the special form @code{save-match-data}. Here is |
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1407 how: |
6552 | 1408 |
1409 @example | |
1410 @group | |
1411 (let ((data (match-data))) | |
1412 (unwind-protect | |
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1413 @dots{} ; @r{Ok to change the original match data.} |
6552 | 1414 (set-match-data data))) |
1415 @end group | |
1416 @end example | |
1417 | |
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1418 Emacs automatically saves and restores the match data when it runs |
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1419 process filter functions (@pxref{Filter Functions}) and process |
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1420 sentinels (@pxref{Sentinels}). |
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1421 |
6552 | 1422 @ignore |
1423 Here is a function which restores the match data provided the buffer | |
1424 associated with it still exists. | |
1425 | |
1426 @smallexample | |
1427 @group | |
1428 (defun restore-match-data (data) | |
1429 @c It is incorrect to split the first line of a doc string. | |
1430 @c If there's a problem here, it should be solved in some other way. | |
1431 "Restore the match data DATA unless the buffer is missing." | |
1432 (catch 'foo | |
1433 (let ((d data)) | |
1434 @end group | |
1435 (while d | |
1436 (and (car d) | |
1437 (null (marker-buffer (car d))) | |
1438 @group | |
1439 ;; @file{match-data} @r{buffer is deleted.} | |
1440 (throw 'foo nil)) | |
1441 (setq d (cdr d))) | |
1442 (set-match-data data)))) | |
1443 @end group | |
1444 @end smallexample | |
1445 @end ignore | |
1446 | |
1447 @node Searching and Case | |
1448 @section Searching and Case | |
1449 @cindex searching and case | |
1450 | |
1451 By default, searches in Emacs ignore the case of the text they are | |
1452 searching through; if you specify searching for @samp{FOO}, then | |
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1453 @samp{Foo} or @samp{foo} is also considered a match. This applies to |
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1454 regular expressions, too; thus, @samp{[aB]} would match @samp{a} or |
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1455 @samp{A} or @samp{b} or @samp{B}. |
6552 | 1456 |
1457 If you do not want this feature, set the variable | |
1458 @code{case-fold-search} to @code{nil}. Then all letters must match | |
8469 | 1459 exactly, including case. This is a buffer-local variable; altering the |
1460 variable affects only the current buffer. (@xref{Intro to | |
6552 | 1461 Buffer-Local}.) Alternatively, you may change the value of |
1462 @code{default-case-fold-search}, which is the default value of | |
1463 @code{case-fold-search} for buffers that do not override it. | |
1464 | |
1465 Note that the user-level incremental search feature handles case | |
1466 distinctions differently. When given a lower case letter, it looks for | |
1467 a match of either case, but when given an upper case letter, it looks | |
1468 for an upper case letter only. But this has nothing to do with the | |
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1469 searching functions used in Lisp code. |
6552 | 1470 |
1471 @defopt case-replace | |
8469 | 1472 This variable determines whether the replacement functions should |
1473 preserve case. If the variable is @code{nil}, that means to use the | |
1474 replacement text verbatim. A non-@code{nil} value means to convert the | |
1475 case of the replacement text according to the text being replaced. | |
1476 | |
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1477 This variable is used by passing it as an argument to the function |
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1478 @code{replace-match}. @xref{Replacing Match}. |
6552 | 1479 @end defopt |
1480 | |
1481 @defopt case-fold-search | |
1482 This buffer-local variable determines whether searches should ignore | |
1483 case. If the variable is @code{nil} they do not ignore case; otherwise | |
1484 they do ignore case. | |
1485 @end defopt | |
1486 | |
1487 @defvar default-case-fold-search | |
1488 The value of this variable is the default value for | |
1489 @code{case-fold-search} in buffers that do not override it. This is the | |
1490 same as @code{(default-value 'case-fold-search)}. | |
1491 @end defvar | |
1492 | |
1493 @node Standard Regexps | |
1494 @section Standard Regular Expressions Used in Editing | |
1495 @cindex regexps used standardly in editing | |
1496 @cindex standard regexps used in editing | |
1497 | |
1498 This section describes some variables that hold regular expressions | |
1499 used for certain purposes in editing: | |
1500 | |
1501 @defvar page-delimiter | |
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1502 This is the regular expression describing line-beginnings that separate |
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1503 pages. The default value is @code{"^\014"} (i.e., @code{"^^L"} or |
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1504 @code{"^\C-l"}); this matches a line that starts with a formfeed |
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1505 character. |
6552 | 1506 @end defvar |
1507 | |
12067 | 1508 The following two regular expressions should @emph{not} assume the |
1509 match always starts at the beginning of a line; they should not use | |
1510 @samp{^} to anchor the match. Most often, the paragraph commands do | |
1511 check for a match only at the beginning of a line, which means that | |
12098 | 1512 @samp{^} would be superfluous. When there is a nonzero left margin, |
1513 they accept matches that start after the left margin. In that case, a | |
1514 @samp{^} would be incorrect. However, a @samp{^} is harmless in modes | |
1515 where a left margin is never used. | |
12067 | 1516 |
6552 | 1517 @defvar paragraph-separate |
1518 This is the regular expression for recognizing the beginning of a line | |
1519 that separates paragraphs. (If you change this, you may have to | |
8469 | 1520 change @code{paragraph-start} also.) The default value is |
12067 | 1521 @w{@code{"[@ \t\f]*$"}}, which matches a line that consists entirely of |
1522 spaces, tabs, and form feeds (after its left margin). | |
6552 | 1523 @end defvar |
1524 | |
1525 @defvar paragraph-start | |
1526 This is the regular expression for recognizing the beginning of a line | |
1527 that starts @emph{or} separates paragraphs. The default value is | |
12067 | 1528 @w{@code{"[@ \t\n\f]"}}, which matches a line starting with a space, tab, |
1529 newline, or form feed (after its left margin). | |
6552 | 1530 @end defvar |
1531 | |
1532 @defvar sentence-end | |
1533 This is the regular expression describing the end of a sentence. (All | |
1534 paragraph boundaries also end sentences, regardless.) The default value | |
1535 is: | |
1536 | |
1537 @example | |
8469 | 1538 "[.?!][]\"')@}]*\\($\\| $\\|\t\\| \\)[ \t\n]*" |
6552 | 1539 @end example |
1540 | |
8469 | 1541 This means a period, question mark or exclamation mark, followed |
1542 optionally by a closing parenthetical character, followed by tabs, | |
1543 spaces or new lines. | |
6552 | 1544 |
1545 For a detailed explanation of this regular expression, see @ref{Regexp | |
1546 Example}. | |
1547 @end defvar |