Tool to simplify a regex. Regexp simplifier (or regular expression) shortens the string of characters to search for patterns in a text.
Regular Expression Simplifier - dCode
Tag(s) : Data Processing
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Regular Expression Simplifier
Regular Expressions Simplification
Answers to Questions (FAQ)
What is regexp simplification? (Definition)
Regular expression simplification is a method for removing unnecessary elements from certain regular expressions in order to simplify, minimize or make it more readable by analyzing the patterns that make up the regex string.
How does the regexp minification work?
The regular expressions simplifier (beta version) replaces useless elements in a regular expression.
Example: x{0,} is equivalent to x* through simplification
Example: [aaabbb] is equivalent to [ab]
Example: (ab|ac) can also be written a[bc]
Some regular expressions can not be simplified. In this case, the program will return the same string.
The program/optimizer is in beta test, and does not work all the time! Moreover, some parentheses, potentially useful for capturing can be deleted and escape characters can be ignored.
How to reduce the size of a regexp?
There are shorthand character classes and metacharacters:
| abbreviation | equivalent |
|---|---|
| \d | [0-9] |
| \w | [A-Za-z0-9_] |
| \s | [ \t\r\n\f] |
| \D | [^\d] |
| \W | [^\w] |
| \S | [^\s] |
The letter d for digit (digit), w for word (letter / alphanumeric character) and s for space (spacing), uppercase letters represent the negation of the set
Example: D for a character that is not a number, etc.
Source code
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Regular Expression Simplifier on dCode.fr [online website], retrieved on 2025-04-03,
