Learn about regex syntax: character classes, quantifiers and more
You're welcome to study the full challenge structure and stage instructions for free. A membership is needed for submitting code and viewing solutions.
Want to try a free challenge? Try Build your own Kafka — it's free during beta.
Regular expressions (or Regexes) are patterns used to match character combinations in strings. In this challenge, you'll build a Regex engine from scratch by recreating grep, a CLI tool for regex-based searching.
Along the way you'll learn about Regex syntax, character classes, quantifiers and more.
Regular expressions (or Regexes) are patterns used to match character combinations in strings. In this challenge, you'll build a Regex engine from scratch by recreating grep, a CLI tool for regex-based searching.
Along the way you'll learn about Regex syntax, character classes, quantifiers and more.
In this challenge extension, you'll add support for backreferences to your Grep implementation.
Along the way, you'll learn about how capture groups and backreferences work.
In this challenge extension, you'll add support for searching files.
Along the way, you'll learn about how to implement efficient file I/O, directory traversal and pattern matching on file contents.
In this challenge extension, you'll add support for quantifiers to your Grep implementation.
Along the way, you'll learn about how to implement the * quantifier (zero or more), and bounded quantifiers.
Ananthalakshmi Sankar
Automation Engineer at Apple
“
I think the instant feedback right there in the git push is really cool.
Didn't even know that was possible!
Patrick Burris
Senior Software Developer, CenturyLink