Java Pattern Matcher COMMA

Question

I am trying to use a pattern check against a string, and for some reason it is saying that strings that shouldn't match, do..

Code:

private static final Pattern VALID_TOKEN = Pattern.compile("^[a-zA-Z0-9\\{\\}\\[\\].+-/=><\\\\*]*$");
System.out.println(VALID_TOKEN.matcher(token).matches());

Examples:

"123" = true
"1,3" = true // Should NOT BE TRUE
"123*123" = true
"123*^123" = false

All of the above examples are correct except "1,3" the pattern should not include a COMMA. Does anyone have any ideas?

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 04 '13 at 04:23

You need to escape the dash in

+-/

Otherwise, it is interpreted as a range from '+' to '/' - a range that includes '+', ',', '-'. '.', and '/'.

private static final Pattern VALID_TOKEN = Pattern.compile("^[a-zA-Z0-9\\{\\}\\[\\].+\\-/=><\\\\*]*$");
//                              Here ------------------------------------------------^^

Alternatively, you can move the dash to the end of the character class (i.e. put it before the closing ]).

Java Pattern Matcher COMMA

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