From the author of XRegExp:
“Regular Expressions Cookbook manages to be simultaneously accessible and almost ridiculously comprehensive.”
—Jeff Atwood
Feedback is very welcome on my related blog post (preferred) or by email.
Download XRegExp 1.2.0 with comments, or grab the minified version (2.7 KB when gzipped).
What is it?
XRegExp is an open source (MIT license) JavaScript library that provides an augmented, extensible, cross-browser implementation of regular expressions, including support for additional syntax, flags, and methods.
XRegExp is fully compliant with the regular expression flavor specified in ECMA-262 Edition 3 (ES3), and has been tested with Internet Explorer 5.5–8, Firefox 2–3.5, Safari 3–4, Chrome 1–3, and Opera 9.5–10. It uses feature detection for its cross-browser support—no browser sniffing.
Features
- Adds new regex and replacement text syntax, including comprehensive support for named capture.
- Adds two new regex flags:
s, to make dot match all characters (aka singleline mode), andx, for free-spacing and comments (aka extended mode). - Provides a suite of 11 functions and methods that make complex regex processing a breeze.
- Automagically fixes the most commonly encountered cross-browser inconsistencies in regex behavior and syntax.
- Lets you easily create and use plugins that add new syntax and flags to XRegExp's regular expression language.
Shout-outs
Steve Levithan, once again, brings the JS RegExp smackdown.
XRegExp [...] does some killer stuff that the native JS RegExp does not; at only 2.4KB, it's a must-have for grepping and/or parsing on the client side.
XRegExp [...] adds some amazing features to stock JS capabilities.
For those of you so advanced in your RegEx powers that you've hit the limitations of the built-in JavaScript implementation, check out XRegExp, an open-source regular-expression library that supports named capture and other advanced features.
XRegExp adds more power to RegExp with features that will be part of the browsers of tomorrow.
XRegExp is an awesome enhancement for RegExp!!
Who's using it?
Following are websites and libraries I know about that use or include XRegExp. Are you using XRegExp in your projects? Please let me know.
- Chiron — JavaScript module system and library.
- Jewish Liturgy Project — Toolkit for making custom Jewish liturgical books.
- JRX — Regex tester inspired by the RX tool of Komodo IDE.
- JSMeta — A meta-language environment for JavaScript.
- RegexPal — Regex tester with real-time syntax and match highlighting.
- SweetButty — SweetXML parser.
- SyntaxHighlighter — Syntax highlighting library, used by sites like DZone, WordPress.com, and the Mozilla Developer Center.