# RegExp

## Overview

The `RegExp` object in JavaScript provides powerful tools for pattern matching and text processing. It allows developers to define patterns for searching and manipulating strings, supporting modifiers such as global searches, case-insensitivity, and multiline matching. Key properties include the pattern source, flags indicating active modifiers, and the index position for the next match.

Core functionality includes the `exec()` method, which searches for a pattern and returns the matched value while keeping track of the match position, and the `test()` method, which checks if a pattern exists in a string, returning a boolean result.

For more information see: [RegExp (MDN)](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/RegExp).

## Properties Summarized

| Type                                                                           | Name                      | Summary                                                           |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Boolean](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/boolean) | [global](#global)         | Specifies if the "g" modifier is set.                             |
| [Boolean](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/boolean) | [ignoreCase](#ignorecase) | Specifies if the "i" modifier is set.                             |
| [Number](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/number)   | [lastIndex](#lastindex)   | An integer specifying the index at which to start the next match. |
| [Boolean](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/boolean) | [multiline](#multiline)   | Specifies if the "m" modifier is set.                             |
| [String](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/string)   | [source](#source)         | The text used for pattern matching.                               |

## Methods Summarized

| Type                                                                           | Name                         | Summary                                |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| [String](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/string)   | [exec(string)](#exec-string) | Search a string for a specified value. |
| [Boolean](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/boolean) | [test(string)](#test-string) | Search a string for a specified value. |

## Properties Detailed

### global

Specifies if the "g" modifier is set.

**Type**\
[Boolean](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/boolean)

**Sample**

```js
var str = 'Visit www.servoy.com';
var patt1 = new RegExp('www');
application.output(patt1.global);
```

### ignoreCase

Specifies if the "i" modifier is set.

**Type**\
[Boolean](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/boolean)

**Sample**

```js
var str = 'Visit www.servoy.com';
var patt1 = new RegExp('www');
application.output(patt1.ignoreCase);
```

### lastIndex

An integer specifying the index at which to start the next match.

**Type**\
[Number](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/number)

**Sample**

```js
var str = 'The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain';
var patt1 = new RegExp('ain', 'g');
patt1.test(str);
application.output('Match found. index now at: ' + patt1.lastIndex);
```

### multiline

Specifies if the "m" modifier is set.

**Type**\
[Boolean](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/boolean)

**Sample**

```js
var str = 'Visit www.servoy.com';
var patt1 = new RegExp('www','m');
application.output(patt1.multiline);
```

### source

The text used for pattern matching.

**Type**\
[String](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/string)

**Sample**

```js
var str = 'Visit www.servoy.com';
var patt1 = new RegExp('www.','g');
application.output('The regular expression is: ' + patt1.source);
```

## Methods Detailed

### exec(string)

Search a string for a specified value. Returns the found value and remembers the position.

**Parameters**

* [Object](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/object) **string** ;

**Returns:** [String](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/string) A String representing the found value.

**Sample**

```js
var str='Visit www.servoy.com';
var patt=new RegExp('servoy');
application.output(patt.exec(str));
```

### test(string)

Search a string for a specified value. Returns true or false.

**Parameters**

* [Object](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/object) **string** ;

**Returns:** [Boolean](https://docs.servoy.com/reference/servoycore/dev-api/js-lib/boolean) true if a match was found in the string. false otherwise.

**Sample**

```js
var str='Visit www.servoy.com';
var patt=new RegExp('soft');
application.output(patt.test(str)==true);
patt.compile('servoy');
application.output(patt.test(str)==true)
```

***