OpenSearch/docs/reference/query-dsl/queries/regexp-syntax.asciidoc

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[[regexp-syntax]]
==== Regular expression syntax
Regular expression queries are supported by the `regexp` and the `query_string`
queries. The Lucene regular expression engine
is not Perl-compatible but supports a smaller range of operators.
[NOTE]
====
We will not attempt to explain regular expressions, but
just explain the supported operators.
====
===== Standard operators
Anchoring::
+
--
Most regular expression engines allow you to match any part of a string.
If you want the regexp pattern to start at the beginning of the string or
finish at the end of the string, then you have to _anchor_ it specifically,
using `^` to indicate the beginning or `$` to indicate the end.
Lucene's patterns are always anchored. The pattern provided must match
the entire string. For string `"abcde"`:
ab.* # match
abcd # no match
--
Allowed characters::
+
--
Any Unicode characters may be used in the pattern, but certain characters
are reserved and must be escaped. The standard reserved characters are:
....
. ? + * | { } [ ] ( ) " \
....
If you enable optional features (see below) then these characters may
also be reserved:
# @ & < > ~
Any reserved character can be escaped with a backslash `"\*"` including
a literal backslash character: `"\\"`
Additionally, any characters (except double quotes) are interpreted literally
when surrounded by double quotes:
john"@smith.com"
--
Match any character::
+
--
The period `"."` can be used to represent any character. For string `"abcde"`:
ab... # match
a.c.e # match
--
One-or-more::
+
--
The plus sign `"+"` can be used to repeat the preceding shortest pattern
once or more times. For string `"aaabbb"`:
a+b+ # match
aa+bb+ # match
a+.+ # match
aa+bbb+ # no match
--
Zero-or-more::
+
--
The asterisk `"*"` can be used to match the preceding shortest pattern
zero-or-more times. For string `"aaabbb`":
a*b* # match
a*b*c* # match
.*bbb.* # match
aaa*bbb* # match
--
Zero-or-one::
+
--
The question mark `"?"` makes the preceding shortest pattern optional. It
matches zero or one times. For string `"aaabbb"`:
aaa?bbb? # match
aaaa?bbbb? # match
.....?.? # match
aa?bb? # no match
--
Min-to-max::
+
--
Curly brackets `"{}"` can be used to specify a minimum and (optionally)
a maximum number of times the preceding shortest pattern can repeat. The
allowed forms are:
{5} # repeat exactly 5 times
{2,5} # repeat at least twice and at most 5 times
{2,} # repeat at least twice
For string `"aaabbb"`:
a{3}b{3} # match
a{2,4}b{2,4} # match
a{2,}b{2,} # match
.{3}.{3} # match
a{4}b{4} # no match
a{4,6}b{4,6} # no match
a{4,}b{4,} # no match
--
Grouping::
+
--
Parentheses `"()"` can be used to form sub-patterns. The quantity operators
listed above operate on the shortest previous pattern, which can be a group.
For string `"ababab"`:
(ab)+ # match
ab(ab)+ # match
(..)+ # match
(...)+ # no match
(ab)* # match
abab(ab)? # match
ab(ab)? # no match
(ab){3} # match
(ab){1,2} # no match
--
Alternation::
+
--
The pipe symbol `"|"` acts as an OR operator. The match will succeed if
the pattern on either the left-hand side OR the right-hand side matches.
The alternation applies to the _longest pattern_, not the shortest.
For string `"aabb"`:
aabb|bbaa # match
aacc|bb # no match
aa(cc|bb) # match
a+|b+ # no match
a+b+|b+a+ # match
a+(b|c)+ # match
--
Character classes::
+
--
Ranges of potential characters may be represented as character classes
by enclosing them in square brackets `"[]"`. A leading `^`
negates the character class. The allowed forms are:
[abc] # 'a' or 'b' or 'c'
[a-c] # 'a' or 'b' or 'c'
[-abc] # '-' or 'a' or 'b' or 'c'
[abc\-] # '-' or 'a' or 'b' or 'c'
[^a-c] # any character except 'a' or 'b' or 'c'
[^a-c] # any character except 'a' or 'b' or 'c'
[-abc] # '-' or 'a' or 'b' or 'c'
[abc\-] # '-' or 'a' or 'b' or 'c'
Note that the dash `"-"` indicates a range of characeters, unless it is
the first character or if it is escaped with a backslash.
For string `"abcd"`:
ab[cd]+ # match
[a-d]+ # match
[^a-d]+ # no match
--
===== Optional operators
These operators are only available when they are explicitly enabled, by
passing `flags` to the query.
Multiple flags can be enabled either using the `ALL` flag, or by
concatenating flags with a pipe `"|"`:
{
"regexp": {
"username": {
"value": "john~athon<1-5>",
"flags": "COMPLEMENT|INTERVAL"
}
}
}
Complement::
+
--
The complement is probably the most useful option. The shortest pattern that
follows a tilde `"~"` is negated. For the string `"abcdef"`:
ab~df # match
ab~cf # no match
a~(cd)f # match
a~(bc)f # no match
Enabled with the `COMPLEMENT` or `ALL` flags.
--
Interval::
+
--
The interval option enables the use of numeric ranges, enclosed by angle
brackets `"<>"`. For string: `"foo80"`:
foo<1-100> # match
foo<01-100> # match
foo<001-100> # no match
Enabled with the `INTERVAL` or `ALL` flags.
--
Intersection::
+
--
The ampersand `"&"` joins two patterns in a way that both of them have to
match. For string `"aaabbb"`:
aaa.+&.+bbb # match
aaa&bbb # no match
Using this feature usually means that you should rewrite your regular
expression.
Enabled with the `INTERSECTION` or `ALL` flags.
--
Any string::
+
--
The at sign `"@"` matches any string in its entirety. This could be combined
with the intersection and complement above to express ``everything except''.
For instance:
@&~(foo.+) # anything except string beginning with "foo"
Enabled with the `ANYSTRING` or `ALL` flags.
--