Regex Generator
Create powerful regular expressions from simple rules. No regex expertise required!
Regex Generator
Generate regular expressions from simple text rules or choose from common patterns
Email Address
Matches standard email addresses
user@example.com
Phone Number (US)
Matches US phone numbers in various formats
(555) 123-4567, 555-123-4567, +1-555-123-4567
URL/Website
Matches HTTP and HTTPS URLs
https://www.example.com
Credit Card Number
Matches credit card numbers with optional spaces/dashes
4532-1234-5678-9012
IP Address (IPv4)
Matches valid IPv4 addresses
192.168.1.1
Strong Password
At least 8 characters with uppercase, lowercase, digit, and special character
MyP@ssw0rd123
Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
Matches dates in MM/DD/YYYY format
12/31/2023
Time (HH:MM AM/PM)
Matches 12-hour time format
3:45 PM
Hex Color Code
Matches hexadecimal color codes
#FF5733, #A1B
Social Security Number
Matches US Social Security Numbers
123-45-6789
ZIP Code
Matches US ZIP codes (5 or 9 digits)
12345 or 12345-6789
Username
Alphanumeric username, 3-16 characters
user123, john_doe
What are Regular Expressions?
Understanding the power of pattern matching in text processing
Regular expressions (regex) are powerful pattern-matching tools used to find, match, and manipulate text. They provide a concise way to describe patterns in strings, making them invaluable for data validation, text processing, search operations, and data extraction tasks.
Common Use Cases
Why Use Our Generator?
How to Use the Regex Generator
Master regular expressions in three simple steps
1Choose Your Method
Start by selecting one of three approaches based on your needs:
Pattern Templates
Choose from 50+ pre-built patterns for common use cases like emails, phone numbers, and URLs.
Text Rules
Build patterns using simple rules like "starts with", "contains", or "exact match".
Custom Builder
Write your own regex patterns for advanced users who know the syntax.
2Configure Your Pattern
Customize your pattern based on your specific requirements:
Example: Email Validation
^[a-zA-Z0-9._%+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+.[a-zA-Z]{2,}$3Test and Refine
Test your pattern with sample text to ensure it works correctly:
Testing Tips:
- • Use diverse test cases including edge cases
- • Include both positive (should match) and negative (shouldn't match) examples
- • Check for false positives and false negatives
- • Use the explanation feature to understand pattern behavior
Common Regex Patterns & Examples
Real-world examples of regular expressions in action
Web & URL Validation
Pattern for HTTP/HTTPS URLsMatches HTTP and HTTPS URLs with optional www prefix
Pattern for email addressesStandard email address validation
Security & Validation
^(?=.*[a-z])(?=.*[A-Z])(?=.*d)(?=.*[@$!%*?&])[A-Za-zd@$!%*?&]{8,}$Strong password: 8+ characters, uppercase, lowercase, digit, special character
^(?:(?:25[0-5]|2[0-4][0-9]|[01]?[0-9][0-9]?).){3}(?:25[0-5]|2[0-4][0-9]|[01]?[0-9][0-9]?)$Valid IPv4 address format
Date & Time Formats
^(0[1-9]|1[0-2])/(0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])/(19|20)\d\d$MM/DD/YYYY date format
^(0?[1-9]|1[0-2]):[0-5][0-9]\s?(AM|PM|am|pm)$12-hour time format with AM/PM
Advanced Regex Features
Powerful features for complex pattern matching scenarios
Capture Groups
Extract specific parts of matched text using parentheses to create capture groups.
Groups: Group 1: "12", Group 2: "25", Group 3: "2023"
Lookahead & Lookbehind
Match patterns based on what comes before or after, without including it in the match.
Negative Lookahead: (?!pattern)
Quantifiers
Control how many times a pattern should match using quantifiers.
* - Zero or more+ - One or more? - Zero or one{n} - Exactly n times{n,m} - Between n and m timesCharacter Classes
Match specific types of characters using predefined character classes.
\d - Any digit (0-9)\w - Word characters (a-z, A-Z, 0-9, _)\s - Whitespace characters[a-z] - Any lowercase letter[^0-9] - Any non-digitRelated Text Processing Tools
Enhance your text processing workflow with these complementary tools
Regex Tester
Test and debug regular expressions with detailed explanations and match highlighting.
Find & Replace Tool
Advanced find and replace with regex support for bulk text processing.
Regex Replace Toolkit
Save and manage regex patterns for repeated use across projects.
Pattern Rewriter
Restructure text using templates and patterns for consistent formatting.
URL Extractor
Extract URLs and domains from text using optimized regex patterns.
Email Extractor
Find and extract email addresses from any text using advanced pattern matching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about regular expressions and pattern generation
What is a regular expression?
A regular expression (regex) is a sequence of characters that defines a search pattern for text. It's used for pattern matching, searching, and text manipulation. Regex provides a powerful and flexible way to find specific patterns in strings, validate input formats, and extract data from text.
Do I need to know regex syntax to use this tool?
Not at all! Our regex generator is designed for users of all skill levels. You can create powerful regular expressions using simple text rules or by selecting from our library of pre-built templates. The tool automatically generates the complex regex syntax for you.
Can I use the generated regex in my programming projects?
Yes! The regex patterns generated by our tool are standard regular expressions that work in most programming languages including JavaScript, Python, Java, C#, PHP, and many others. You can copy the generated pattern and use it directly in your code.
How do I test if my regex pattern works correctly?
Our tool includes a built-in testing feature where you can input sample text to see if your pattern matches correctly. We recommend testing with various inputs including edge cases, both positive examples (should match) and negative examples (should not match) to ensure your pattern works as expected.
What's the difference between the three generation methods?
Pattern Templates: Choose from 50+ pre-built patterns for common use cases like emails, phone numbers, URLs, etc.
Text Rules: Build patterns using simple English rules like "starts with", "contains", or "exact match".
Custom Builder: For advanced users who want to write their own regex patterns from scratch.
Are there any limitations to the patterns I can create?
Our tool supports standard regular expression syntax and can generate patterns for most common use cases. Very complex patterns with advanced features like recursive matching or extremely long patterns might require manual coding. However, the vast majority of practical regex needs can be handled by our generator.
Can I save and reuse my regex patterns?
While this tool focuses on pattern generation, you can easily copy the generated regex to save in your own notes or code. For pattern management and reuse, check out our Regex Replace Toolkitwhich allows you to save and organize your regex patterns.