diff --git a/docs/library/ure.rst b/docs/library/ure.rst index ee360bcc47..92f277af42 100644 --- a/docs/library/ure.rst +++ b/docs/library/ure.rst @@ -1,5 +1,5 @@ -:mod:`ure` -- regular expressions -================================= +:mod:`ure` -- simple regular expressions +======================================== .. module:: ure :synopsis: regular expressions @@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ Supported operators are: ``'+?'`` +``'()'`` + Grouping. Each group is capturing (a substring it captures can be accessed + with `match.group()` method). + Counted repetitions (``{m,n}``), more advanced assertions, named groups, etc. are not supported. @@ -39,18 +43,18 @@ etc. are not supported. Functions --------- -.. function:: compile(regex) +.. function:: compile(regex_str) - Compile regular expression, return ``regex`` object. + Compile regular expression, return `regex ` object. -.. function:: match(regex, string) +.. function:: match(regex_str, string) - Match ``regex`` against ``string``. Match always happens from starting - position in a string. + Compile *regex_str* and match against *string*. Match always happens + from starting position in a string. -.. function:: search(regex, string) +.. function:: search(regex_str, string) - Search ``regex`` in a ``string``. Unlike ``match``, this will search + Compile *regex_str* and search it in a *string*. Unlike `match`, this will search string for first position which matches regex (which still may be 0 if regex is anchored). @@ -59,24 +63,33 @@ Functions Flag value, display debug information about compiled expression. +.. _regex: + Regex objects ------------- Compiled regular expression. Instances of this class are created using -``ure.compile()``. +`ure.compile()`. .. method:: regex.match(string) + regex.search(string) -.. method:: regex.search(string) + Similar to the module-level functions :meth:`match` and :meth:`search`. + Using methods is (much) more efficient if the same regex is applied to + multiple strings. .. method:: regex.split(string, max_split=-1) + Split a *string* using regex. If *max_split* is given, it specifies + maximum number of splits to perform. Returns list of strings (there + may be up to *max_split+1* elements if it's specified). Match objects ------------- -Match objects as returned by ``match()`` and ``search()`` methods. +Match objects as returned by `match()` and `search()` methods. .. method:: match.group([index]) - Only numeric groups are supported. + Return matching (sub)string. *index* is 0 for entire match, + 1 and above for each capturing group. Only numeric groups are supported.