14

My input is 

This is <a> <test> mat<ch>.

Output should be 

1. <a>
2. <test>
3. <ch>

I have tried this 

string input1 = "This is <a> <test> mat<ch>.";
var m1 = Regex.Matches(input1, @"<(.*)>");
var list = new List<string>();
foreach (Match match in m1)
{
    list.Add(match.Value);
}

This returns <a> <test> mat<ch> as single element in list.

Wiktor Stribiżew
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Manjay_TBAG
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2 Answers2

20

Make your regex non greedy

var m1 = Regex.Matches(input1, @"<(.*?)>");

Or use negation based regex

var m1 = Regex.Matches(input1, @"<([^>]*)>");
MakePeaceGreatAgain
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vks
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    @vks This solution worked. Can you please tell what is the significance of ? in this regex? – Manjay_TBAG Oct 27 '15 at 11:32
  • @TBAG when you use `?` it will stop at the first instance of `>` .If you dont it will be greedy and will go upto last instance of `>` – vks Oct 27 '15 at 11:35
  • in your regex `<(.*)>` the part `.*` will try to match as long as possible. since `.` is any character including `>` then it will go until last `>` character thus will give you all matches at once. when you use `.*?` is will match as least as possible so when you reach first `>` thats the part of the pattern so it will stop there and first match becomes `` forexample @TBAG – M.kazem Akhgary Oct 27 '15 at 11:35
  • Note that this regex will not match balanced angle brackets. Can you have any? – Wiktor Stribiżew Oct 27 '15 at 11:39
  • @stribizhev did explain in comments..waiting for OP if he needs more – vks Oct 27 '15 at 11:41
  • @M.kazemAkhgary what does `Don't be so green eyed` mean? – Michael McGriff Oct 27 '15 at 13:37
  • @M.kazemAkhgary no worries, I figured it was something along those lines due to the color, just curious. – Michael McGriff Oct 27 '15 at 13:43
4

You can simply use the following regex

(<.*?>)
  //^^ Using Non greedy

If there's any case like of <test<a<b>>>

then you can simply use 

(<[^>]>)

Output:

<b>
Narendrasingh Sisodia
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