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re_comp(3)

NAME

re_comp, re_exec - Handle regular expressions

SYNOPSIS

#include <regex.h> char *re_comp( char *string ); int re_exec( char *string );

LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc)

STANDARDS

Interfaces documented on this reference page conform to industry standards as follows: re_comp(), re_exec(): XPG4-UNIX Refer to the standards(5) reference page for more information about industry standards and associated tags.

PARAMETERS

string Points to the string that is to be matched or converted.

DESCRIPTION

The re_comp() function converts a string into an internal form suitable for pattern matching. The re_exec() function compares the string pointed to by the string parameter with the last string passed to the re_comp() function. When the re_comp() function is passed a value of 0 (zero) or NULL, the regular expression currently being converted remains unchanged. Strings passed to both the re_comp() and re_exec() functions may have trailing or embedded newline characters; however, these strings are terminated by a zero byte. The re_comp() and re_exec() functions support simple regular expressions, which are defined in the grep(1) reference page.

NOTES

The re_comp() and re_exec() interfaces are scheduled to be withdrawn from a future version of the X/Open CAE Specification. These interfaces are obsolete; they are guaranteed to function properly only in the C/POSIX locale and should be avoided. Use the POSIX regcomp() interface in place of re_comp() and re_exec().

RETURN VALUES

The re_comp() function returns a value of 0 (zero) when the string pointed to by the string parameter is successfully converted; otherwise, an error message string is returned. Upon successful completion, the re_exec() function returns a value of 1 if string matches the last compiled regular expression. Otherwise, the re_exec() function returns a value of 0 (zero), if string fails to match the last compiled regular expression, and a value of -1, if the compiled regular expression is invalid (indicating an internal error).

SEE ALSO

Functions: regcomp(3) Commands: grep(1) Standards: standards(5)

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