Extract text from html source using regular expressions java

Question

I like to extract text from html page using regular expressions. Here is my code:

String regExp="<h3 class=\"field-content\"><a[^>]*>(\\w+)</a></h3>";
    Pattern regExpMatcher=Pattern.compile(regExp,Pattern.UNICODE_CHARACTER_CLASS);

    String example="<h3 class=\"field-content\"><a href=\"/humana-akcija-na-kavadarechkite-navivachi-lozari\">Проба 1</a></h3><h3 class=\"field-content\"><a href=\"/opshtina-berovo-ne-mozhe-da-sostavi-sovet-0\">Проба 2</a></h3>";
    Matcher m=regExpMatcher.matcher(example);
    while(m.find())
    {

        System.out.println(m.group(1));
    }

I like to get the values Проба 1 and Проба 2. However I only get the first value Проба 1. What is my problem?

It is for my school project and I have to use regular expressions... — vikifor
– vikifor, Commented Jun 9, 2013 at 21:08
Do not use regular expressions for parsing html: stackoverflow.com/questions/1732348/… — Micha Wiedenmann
– Micha Wiedenmann, Commented Jun 9, 2013 at 21:11
@MichaWiedenmann from the link: Even Jon Skeet cannot parse HTML using regular expressions. this sentence made my day :). — Luiggi Mendoza
– Luiggi Mendoza, Commented Jun 9, 2013 at 21:12
@vikifor "I have to use regular expressions..." <-- no, you have to change teachers — fge
– fge, Commented Jun 9, 2013 at 21:23

Pshemo · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-09 21:20:01Z

5

It is blasphemy to use regex + HTML. But if you really want to be cursed then here it is (you have been warned):

String regExp = "<h3 class=\"field-content\"><a[^>]*>([\\w\\s]+)</a></h3>";
                                                       ^updated part

Since Проба 1 and Проба 2 contains also spaces you need to include \\s to your pattern.

answered Jun 9, 2013 at 21:20

Pshemo

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4 Comments

Micha Wiedenmann Over a year ago

If you talk about blasphemy, you should not play devils advocate, now should you? :-)

Casimir et Hippolyte Over a year ago

It isn't blasphemy, it is sacrilege. :)

Pshemo Over a year ago

I know I am playing with fire here but there is no fun without risk }:->

Pshemo Over a year ago

@vikifor that is one of the reasons to use tools designed for such tasks like jsoup.org.

Casimir et Hippolyte · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-09 21:25:55Z

1

To discover the power of the dark side, you can try this pattern:

<h3 class=\"field-content\"><a[^>]*>([^<]+)</a></h3>

Don't forget to set the UNICODE_CASE before.

answered Jun 9, 2013 at 21:25

Casimir et Hippolyte

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