Python's 'match' line in _sre.SRE_Match output? Can it show the full match?

Question

Using python 3:

In [275]: blah = "ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffg"

In [276]: pat = re.compile("([a-z]{2,9999})")

In [277]: data = re.search(pat,blah)

In [278]: data
Out[278]: <_sre.SRE_Match object; span=(0, 125), match='fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff>

Is it possible for match='' to print out the whole string? i.e all the way to the final 'g'?

The pattern only matches 99 characters, the rest is not part of the match. — Barmar, Feb 07 '18 at 23:57
thanks. I edited my posted. Even with 9999 I don't see the full end to the 'g' — jouell, Feb 08 '18 at 00:08

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 08 '18 at 00:20

With this one you don't constrain yourself with any upper limit of repetitions:

import re

blah = "ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffg"

r = re.compile(r'[a-z](.)\1{2,}') # no upper limit
try:
    re.search(r, blah).group()
except AttributeError:
    pass  # whatever you want to do when there is no match

Moses Koledoye · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-08T00:34:37.043

No, it is not possible. That length is hard coded in the format string in the match object's repr method and is not designed to capture the full length of the matched string.

Except you compile your own build of CPython (or whatever Python flavour you're at) with the precision of the representation of the match object in match_repr modified. Default precision is 50:

result = PyUnicode_FromFormat(
        "<%s object; span=(%d, %d), match=%.50R>",
        Py_TYPE(self)->tp_name,
        self->mark[0], self->mark[1], group0);

As others have suggested, simply use the group method of the match object to access the full matching string(s).

Thank you. No is the answer, then. I am unconcerned with group methods. — jouell, Feb 08 '18 at 01:36

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 08 '18 at 00:02

You are probably looking for the .group ...

import re
blah = "ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffg"
pat = re.compile("([a-z]{2,99})")
data = re.search(pat,blah)
if data:
    data.group(0) # returns 'fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff'
else:
    pass # do something when the string was not found!

See: https://docs.python.org/3.5/library/re.html#re.match.group

and

Why won't re.groups() give me anything for my one correctly-matched group?

Python's 'match' line in _sre.SRE_Match output? Can it show the full match?

3 Answers3

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