Split a String Into Multiple Strings Using a Regex With Different Capture Groups

Question

I am trying to split a string into multiple strings but rather than using a string just one simple regex pattern, I am trying to use a regex pattern that will split a string into different strings if it detects certain characters, but the characters are different. Instead of splitting the string into different strings, it's giving me each and every individual characters in said string.

String[] splitstr = line.split("([&]{2})?([|]{2})?(!=)?");

Using the above line, I have a variable called line which, as an example, I am putting this line from a file:

:if[input=right || input=Right]:

I am just wondering if there is a way to make this split into

":if[input=right", "input=Right]:"

And if I put in a line like this:

:if[input=right || input=Right && input != null]:

So that it splits into

":if[input=right", "input=Right", "input != null]:"

I was using String#split(regex) for the || symbol and it worked just fine, but now that I want it to split wherever that are || or && or != and I want my code to be efficient and clean and easy to read.

MJFoster · Accepted Answer · 2017-07-08 04:08:16Z

2

The java class below will split your example string into the parts you are interested in. The code will split the original string at all '||' and '&&' delimeters, globally. I.e, if you have more than one '||' or '&&' operator in your original string, each part will be split out.

One thing to note is the need to escape (\) the special characters. In Java you also need to escape the escape, so you need 2 backslashes in order to have a literal in your string.

Here's a great site to test out regEx code ... Regular Expressions 101

public class splitStrRegex {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        String myStr = ":if[input=right || input=Right && input != null]:";
        String[] myStrings = myStr.split("\\|\\||&&");
        for(int i = 0; i < myStrings.length; i++) {
            System.out.println(myStrings[i].trim());
        }
    }
}

Output:

:if[input=right
input=Right
input != null]:

edited Jul 8, 2017 at 4:08

answered Jul 8, 2017 at 4:01

MJFoster

561 silver badge6 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Alex Couch Over a year ago

Oh my god I was thinking that there was some special use for the pipe symbol, I'm glad you told me to escape the pipe! Thanks!

MJFoster Over a year ago

Glad I could help @AlexCouch. Don't forget to vote for your favorite answers, and thanks for the great question too!

Vasyl Lyashkevych · Accepted Answer · 2017-07-08 02:56:54Z

It is a very interesting question. There are more answers for that on the site like: Java String.split() Regex Also, it so easy to check, like:

public class Reg {

    public static void main(String args[]) {
        String string = "00!=4-0||34 & 55!=6";
        String[] parts = string.split("[&||!=]");
        for (int i = 0; i < parts.length; i++) {
            System.out.println("Part: " + parts[i]);
        }
    }
}

OUTPUT:

Part: 00
Part: 
Part: 4-0
Part: 
Part: 34 
Part:  55
Part: 
Part: 6

But problem with symbol "&&", for example, for the:

    String string = "00!=4-0||34 && 55!=6";
    String[] parts = string.split("[&&||!=]");

OUTPUT:

Part: 00
Part: 
Part: 4-0
Part: 
Part: 34 && 55
Part: 
Part: 6

I can guess that we need to understand && in other interpretation, for example:

public class Reg {

    public static void main(String args[]) {
        String string = "00!=4-0||34 && 55!=6";
        String[] parts = string.split("[&^&||!=]");
        for (int i = 0; i < parts.length; i++) {
            System.out.println("Part: " + parts[i]);
        }
    }
}

OUTPUT:

Part: 00
Part: 
Part: 4-0
Part: 
Part: 34 
Part: 
Part:  55
Part: 
Part: 6

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Split a String Into Multiple Strings Using a Regex With Different Capture Groups

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related