Easily Use Regular Expressions
in Your MySQL SQL Queries

MySQL REGEXP Operator

MySQL only has one operator that allows you to work with regular expressions. This is the REGEXP operator, which works just like the LIKE operator, except that instead of using the _ and % wildcards, it uses a POSIX Extended Regular Expression (ERE). Despite the "extended" in the name of the standard, the POSIX ERE flavor is a fairly basic regex flavor by modern standards. Still, it makes the REGEXP operator far more powerful and flexible than the simple LIKE operator.

See How Easy Querying with Regexes Can Be

First, use RegexBuddy to define a regex or retrieve a regexp saved in a RegexBuddy library. Rely on RegexBuddy's clear regex analysis, which is constantly updated as you build the pattern, rather than dealing with the cryptic regex syntax on your own. Detailed help on that syntax is always only a click away.

If you copied a regex written for another programming language or database, simply paste it into RegexBuddy, and select the original regex flavor. RegexBuddy will then automatically convert it to the POSIX ERE regex flavor when you generate a MySQL source code snippet.

If you created a new regular expression, test and debug it in RegexBuddy before using it in your MySQL queries. Test each regex in RegexBuddy's safe sandbox without risking precious data. Quickly apply the regex to a wide variety of input and sample data, without having to produce that input through your database.

Finally, let RegexBuddy generate a source code snippet that you can copy and paste directly into whichever database application you use. Just choose what you want to use the regex for, and a fully functional code snippet is ready. You can change the names of tables and columns to suit your naming style or the current situation, which RegexBuddy automatically remembers.

Don't bother trying to remember MySQL's specific regexp syntax. And don't worry about properly escaping backslashes and other characters. Just tell RegexBuddy what you want to do, and you will get the proper MySQL code straight away.

Let RegexBuddy Make Regex Easy for You

• Discover how you can automate tedious tasks with regular expressions.
• Find out how RegexBuddy makes the regex syntax crystal clear enabling you to use regular expressions with the greatest ease ever.
• Watch self-running demonstrations in your web browser and see what RegexBuddy can do for you.
• Take a look at the screen shots.
• Buy RegexBuddy now and try it risk-free with our 3-month unconditional money-back guarantee.

Page URL: http://www.regexbuddy.com/mysql.html
Page last updated: 08 June 2007
Site last updated: 03 March 2010

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