Regex match pattern end with ':' but not include it

Question

I'm new to regex and i don't find how to get text before ':' but not include it.

I do a replace in my code so i need to select all the text after ':'

Here is a demo:

/(?!.*:)./

Thank you for your help.

Thanks for your help, the required output is only character names: Hilary: Devon Hilary Devon Hilary — amerej, Aug 29 '17 at 12:33
So, [`.replace(/:.*/g, '')`](https://regex101.com/r/aS2pH9/8)? Or just split with `:` and grab the first item. — Wiktor Stribiżew, Aug 29 '17 at 12:35
@WiktorStribiżew Your solution is good but there is some problems: https://regex101.com/r/aS2pH9/9 — amerej, Aug 29 '17 at 12:55
I see you have multiline input, right? Use `s.match(/^[^:\r\n]+(?=:)/gm)`. If the names cannot have a space, you might use `s.match(/^\S+(?=:)/gm)`. — Wiktor Stribiżew, Aug 29 '17 at 13:00
Thank you all for your help. @WiktorStribiżew ty for your solution with JSON it's what i wanted. — amerej, Aug 29 '17 at 13:49
@amerej It seems quite different from what we thought you need. I posted an answer, please consider accepting. — Wiktor Stribiżew, Aug 29 '17 at 13:58

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 29 '17 at 13:58

It seems you need

const rx = /^[^:\r\n]+(?=:)/gm;
const str = `Hilary: YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT WHY I CAME HERE.
Devon: DOESN'T MATTER.
Hilary: IT DOES. DEVON, WHEN I SAY THAT I'M TIRED OF SNEAKING AROUND, I MEANT IT.
Devon: DON'T GET UPSET, THOUGH.
Hilary: HOW CAN I NOT? I MEAN, LOOK AT WHAT I DID.
Devon: HONEY, HONEY, WE'RE IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER. OKAY? AND WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE'RE GONNA TELL NEIL THE TRUTH.
Hilary: NOW?
Dr. Barrett: I THINK YOU CAN PROVIDE SOME VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO PHYLLIS NEWMAN'S RECENT STATE OF MIND.`;
document.body.innerHTML = "<pre>" + JSON.stringify(str.match(rx), 0, 4) + "</pre>";

Details

^ - start of string
[^:\r\n]+ - one or more chars other than :, CR and LF
(?=:) - there must be : immediately to the right of the current location

Regex match pattern end with ':' but not include it

1 Answers1