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Matcher.javaAPI DocJava SE 6 API43664Tue Jun 10 00:26:00 BST 2008java.util.regex

Matcher

public final class Matcher extends Object implements MatchResult
An engine that performs match operations on a {@link java.lang.CharSequence character sequence} by interpreting a {@link Pattern}.

A matcher is created from a pattern by invoking the pattern's {@link Pattern#matcher matcher} method. Once created, a matcher can be used to perform three different kinds of match operations:

  • The {@link #matches matches} method attempts to match the entire input sequence against the pattern.

  • The {@link #lookingAt lookingAt} method attempts to match the input sequence, starting at the beginning, against the pattern.

  • The {@link #find find} method scans the input sequence looking for the next subsequence that matches the pattern.

Each of these methods returns a boolean indicating success or failure. More information about a successful match can be obtained by querying the state of the matcher.

A matcher finds matches in a subset of its input called the region. By default, the region contains all of the matcher's input. The region can be modified via the{@link #region region} method and queried via the {@link #regionStart regionStart} and {@link #regionEnd regionEnd} methods. The way that the region boundaries interact with some pattern constructs can be changed. See {@link #useAnchoringBounds useAnchoringBounds} and {@link #useTransparentBounds useTransparentBounds} for more details.

This class also defines methods for replacing matched subsequences with new strings whose contents can, if desired, be computed from the match result. The {@link #appendReplacement appendReplacement} and {@link #appendTail appendTail} methods can be used in tandem in order to collect the result into an existing string buffer, or the more convenient {@link #replaceAll replaceAll} method can be used to create a string in which every matching subsequence in the input sequence is replaced.

The explicit state of a matcher includes the start and end indices of the most recent successful match. It also includes the start and end indices of the input subsequence captured by each capturing group in the pattern as well as a total count of such subsequences. As a convenience, methods are also provided for returning these captured subsequences in string form.

The explicit state of a matcher is initially undefined; attempting to query any part of it before a successful match will cause an {@link IllegalStateException} to be thrown. The explicit state of a matcher is recomputed by every match operation.

The implicit state of a matcher includes the input character sequence as well as the append position, which is initially zero and is updated by the {@link #appendReplacement appendReplacement} method.

A matcher may be reset explicitly by invoking its {@link #reset()} method or, if a new input sequence is desired, its {@link #reset(java.lang.CharSequence) reset(CharSequence)} method. Resetting a matcher discards its explicit state information and sets the append position to zero.

Instances of this class are not safe for use by multiple concurrent threads.

author
Mike McCloskey
author
Mark Reinhold
author
JSR-51 Expert Group
version
1.64, 06/04/07
since
1.4
spec
JSR-51

Fields Summary
Pattern
parentPattern
The Pattern object that created this Matcher.
int[]
groups
The storage used by groups. They may contain invalid values if a group was skipped during the matching.
int
from
The range within the sequence that is to be matched. Anchors will match at these "hard" boundaries. Changing the region changes these values.
int
to
int
lookbehindTo
Lookbehind uses this value to ensure that the subexpression match ends at the point where the lookbehind was encountered.
CharSequence
text
The original string being matched.
static final int
ENDANCHOR
Matcher state used by the last node. NOANCHOR is used when a match does not have to consume all of the input. ENDANCHOR is the mode used for matching all the input.
static final int
NOANCHOR
int
acceptMode
int
first
The range of string that last matched the pattern. If the last match failed then first is -1; last initially holds 0 then it holds the index of the end of the last match (which is where the next search starts).
int
last
int
oldLast
The end index of what matched in the last match operation.
int
lastAppendPosition
The index of the last position appended in a substitution.
int[]
locals
Storage used by nodes to tell what repetition they are on in a pattern, and where groups begin. The nodes themselves are stateless, so they rely on this field to hold state during a match.
boolean
hitEnd
Boolean indicating whether or not more input could change the results of the last match. If hitEnd is true, and a match was found, then more input might cause a different match to be found. If hitEnd is true and a match was not found, then more input could cause a match to be found. If hitEnd is false and a match was found, then more input will not change the match. If hitEnd is false and a match was not found, then more input will not cause a match to be found.
boolean
requireEnd
Boolean indicating whether or not more input could change a positive match into a negative one. If requireEnd is true, and a match was found, then more input could cause the match to be lost. If requireEnd is false and a match was found, then more input might change the match but the match won't be lost. If a match was not found, then requireEnd has no meaning.
boolean
transparentBounds
If transparentBounds is true then the boundaries of this matcher's region are transparent to lookahead, lookbehind, and boundary matching constructs that try to see beyond them.
boolean
anchoringBounds
If anchoringBounds is true then the boundaries of this matcher's region match anchors such as ^ and $.
Constructors Summary
Matcher()
No default constructor.


            
     
    
Matcher(Pattern parent, CharSequence text)
All matchers have the state used by Pattern during a match.

        this.parentPattern = parent;
        this.text = text;

        // Allocate state storage
        int parentGroupCount = Math.max(parent.capturingGroupCount, 10);
        groups = new int[parentGroupCount * 2];
        locals = new int[parent.localCount];

        // Put fields into initial states
        reset();
    
Methods Summary
public java.util.regex.MatcherappendReplacement(java.lang.StringBuffer sb, java.lang.String replacement)
Implements a non-terminal append-and-replace step.

This method performs the following actions:

  1. It reads characters from the input sequence, starting at the append position, and appends them to the given string buffer. It stops after reading the last character preceding the previous match, that is, the character at index {@link #start()} - 1.

  2. It appends the given replacement string to the string buffer.

  3. It sets the append position of this matcher to the index of the last character matched, plus one, that is, to {@link #end()}.

The replacement string may contain references to subsequences captured during the previous match: Each occurrence of $g will be replaced by the result of evaluating {@link #group(int) group}(g). The first number after the $ is always treated as part of the group reference. Subsequent numbers are incorporated into g if they would form a legal group reference. Only the numerals '0' through '9' are considered as potential components of the group reference. If the second group matched the string "foo", for example, then passing the replacement string "$2bar" would cause "foobar" to be appended to the string buffer. A dollar sign ($) may be included as a literal in the replacement string by preceding it with a backslash (\$).

Note that backslashes (\) and dollar signs ($) in the replacement string may cause the results to be different than if it were being treated as a literal replacement string. Dollar signs may be treated as references to captured subsequences as described above, and backslashes are used to escape literal characters in the replacement string.

This method is intended to be used in a loop together with the {@link #appendTail appendTail} and {@link #find find} methods. The following code, for example, writes one dog two dogs in the yard to the standard-output stream:

Pattern p = Pattern.compile("cat");
Matcher m = p.matcher("one cat two cats in the yard");
StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
while (m.find()) {
m.appendReplacement(sb, "dog");
}
m.appendTail(sb);
System.out.println(sb.toString());

param
sb The target string buffer
param
replacement The replacement string
return
This matcher
throws
IllegalStateException If no match has yet been attempted, or if the previous match operation failed
throws
IndexOutOfBoundsException If the replacement string refers to a capturing group that does not exist in the pattern


        // If no match, return error
        if (first < 0)
            throw new IllegalStateException("No match available");

        // Process substitution string to replace group references with groups
        int cursor = 0;
        String s = replacement;
        StringBuffer result = new StringBuffer();

        while (cursor < replacement.length()) {
            char nextChar = replacement.charAt(cursor);
            if (nextChar == '\\") {
                cursor++;
                nextChar = replacement.charAt(cursor);
                result.append(nextChar);
                cursor++;
            } else if (nextChar == '$") {
                // Skip past $
                cursor++;

                // The first number is always a group
                int refNum = (int)replacement.charAt(cursor) - '0";
                if ((refNum < 0)||(refNum > 9))
                    throw new IllegalArgumentException(
                        "Illegal group reference");
                cursor++;

                // Capture the largest legal group string
                boolean done = false;
                while (!done) {
                    if (cursor >= replacement.length()) {
                        break;
                    }
                    int nextDigit = replacement.charAt(cursor) - '0";
                    if ((nextDigit < 0)||(nextDigit > 9)) { // not a number
                        break;
                    }
                    int newRefNum = (refNum * 10) + nextDigit;
                    if (groupCount() < newRefNum) {
                        done = true;
                    } else {
                        refNum = newRefNum;
                        cursor++;
                    }
                }

                // Append group
                if (group(refNum) != null)
                    result.append(group(refNum));
            } else {
                result.append(nextChar);
                cursor++;
            }
        }

        // Append the intervening text
        sb.append(getSubSequence(lastAppendPosition, first));
        // Append the match substitution
        sb.append(result.toString());

        lastAppendPosition = last;
	return this;
    
public java.lang.StringBufferappendTail(java.lang.StringBuffer sb)
Implements a terminal append-and-replace step.

This method reads characters from the input sequence, starting at the append position, and appends them to the given string buffer. It is intended to be invoked after one or more invocations of the {@link #appendReplacement appendReplacement} method in order to copy the remainder of the input sequence.

param
sb The target string buffer
return
The target string buffer

        sb.append(getSubSequence(lastAppendPosition, getTextLength()).toString());
	return sb;
    
charcharAt(int i)
Returns this Matcher's input character at index i.

return
A char from the specified index

        return text.charAt(i);
    
public intend()
Returns the offset after the last character matched.

return
The offset after the last character matched
throws
IllegalStateException If no match has yet been attempted, or if the previous match operation failed

        if (first < 0)
            throw new IllegalStateException("No match available");
        return last;
    
public intend(int group)
Returns the offset after the last character of the subsequence captured by the given group during the previous match operation.

Capturing groups are indexed from left to right, starting at one. Group zero denotes the entire pattern, so the expression m.end(0) is equivalent to m.end().

param
group The index of a capturing group in this matcher's pattern
return
The offset after the last character captured by the group, or -1 if the match was successful but the group itself did not match anything
throws
IllegalStateException If no match has yet been attempted, or if the previous match operation failed
throws
IndexOutOfBoundsException If there is no capturing group in the pattern with the given index

        if (first < 0)
            throw new IllegalStateException("No match available");
        if (group > groupCount())
            throw new IndexOutOfBoundsException("No group " + group);
        return groups[group * 2 + 1];
    
public booleanfind()
Attempts to find the next subsequence of the input sequence that matches the pattern.

This method starts at the beginning of this matcher's region, or, if a previous invocation of the method was successful and the matcher has not since been reset, at the first character not matched by the previous match.

If the match succeeds then more information can be obtained via the start, end, and group methods.

return
true if, and only if, a subsequence of the input sequence matches this matcher's pattern

        int nextSearchIndex = last;
        if (nextSearchIndex == first)
            nextSearchIndex++;

        // If next search starts before region, start it at region
        if (nextSearchIndex < from)
            nextSearchIndex = from;

        // If next search starts beyond region then it fails
        if (nextSearchIndex > to) {
            for (int i = 0; i < groups.length; i++)
                groups[i] = -1;
            return false;
        }
        return search(nextSearchIndex);
    
public booleanfind(int start)
Resets this matcher and then attempts to find the next subsequence of the input sequence that matches the pattern, starting at the specified index.

If the match succeeds then more information can be obtained via the start, end, and group methods, and subsequent invocations of the {@link #find()} method will start at the first character not matched by this match.

throws
IndexOutOfBoundsException If start is less than zero or if start is greater than the length of the input sequence.
return
true if, and only if, a subsequence of the input sequence starting at the given index matches this matcher's pattern

        int limit = getTextLength();
        if ((start < 0) || (start > limit))
            throw new IndexOutOfBoundsException("Illegal start index");
        reset();
        return search(start);
    
java.lang.CharSequencegetSubSequence(int beginIndex, int endIndex)
Generates a String from this Matcher's input in the specified range.

param
beginIndex the beginning index, inclusive
param
endIndex the ending index, exclusive
return
A String generated from this Matcher's input

        return text.subSequence(beginIndex, endIndex);
    
intgetTextLength()
Returns the end index of the text.

return
the index after the last character in the text

        return text.length();
    
public java.lang.Stringgroup()
Returns the input subsequence matched by the previous match.

For a matcher m with input sequence s, the expressions m.group() and s.substring(m.start(), m.end()) are equivalent.

Note that some patterns, for example a*, match the empty string. This method will return the empty string when the pattern successfully matches the empty string in the input.

return
The (possibly empty) subsequence matched by the previous match, in string form
throws
IllegalStateException If no match has yet been attempted, or if the previous match operation failed

        return group(0);
    
public java.lang.Stringgroup(int group)
Returns the input subsequence captured by the given group during the previous match operation.

For a matcher m, input sequence s, and group index g, the expressions m.group(g) and s.substring(m.start(g), m.end(g)) are equivalent.

Capturing groups are indexed from left to right, starting at one. Group zero denotes the entire pattern, so the expression m.group(0) is equivalent to m.group().

If the match was successful but the group specified failed to match any part of the input sequence, then null is returned. Note that some groups, for example (a*), match the empty string. This method will return the empty string when such a group successfully matches the empty string in the input.

param
group The index of a capturing group in this matcher's pattern
return
The (possibly empty) subsequence captured by the group during the previous match, or null if the group failed to match part of the input
throws
IllegalStateException If no match has yet been attempted, or if the previous match operation failed
throws
IndexOutOfBoundsException If there is no capturing group in the pattern with the given index

        if (first < 0)
            throw new IllegalStateException("No match found");
        if (group < 0 || group > groupCount())
            throw new IndexOutOfBoundsException("No group " + group);
        if ((groups[group*2] == -1) || (groups[group*2+1] == -1))
            return null;
        return getSubSequence(groups[group * 2], groups[group * 2 + 1]).toString();
    
public intgroupCount()
Returns the number of capturing groups in this matcher's pattern.

Group zero denotes the entire pattern by convention. It is not included in this count.

Any non-negative integer smaller than or equal to the value returned by this method is guaranteed to be a valid group index for this matcher.

return
The number of capturing groups in this matcher's pattern

        return parentPattern.capturingGroupCount - 1;
    
public booleanhasAnchoringBounds()
Queries the anchoring of region bounds for this matcher.

This method returns true if this matcher uses anchoring bounds, false otherwise.

See {@link #useAnchoringBounds useAnchoringBounds} for a description of anchoring bounds.

By default, a matcher uses anchoring region boundaries.

return
true iff this matcher is using anchoring bounds, false otherwise.
see
java.util.regex.Matcher#useAnchoringBounds(boolean)
since
1.5

        return anchoringBounds;
    
public booleanhasTransparentBounds()
Queries the transparency of region bounds for this matcher.

This method returns true if this matcher uses transparent bounds, false if it uses opaque bounds.

See {@link #useTransparentBounds useTransparentBounds} for a description of transparent and opaque bounds.

By default, a matcher uses opaque region boundaries.

return
true iff this matcher is using transparent bounds, false otherwise.
see
java.util.regex.Matcher#useTransparentBounds(boolean)
since
1.5

        return transparentBounds;
    
public booleanhitEnd()

Returns true if the end of input was hit by the search engine in the last match operation performed by this matcher.

When this method returns true, then it is possible that more input would have changed the result of the last search.

return
true iff the end of input was hit in the last match; false otherwise
since
1.5

        return hitEnd;
    
public booleanlookingAt()
Attempts to match the input sequence, starting at the beginning of the region, against the pattern.

Like the {@link #matches matches} method, this method always starts at the beginning of the region; unlike that method, it does not require that the entire region be matched.

If the match succeeds then more information can be obtained via the start, end, and group methods.

return
true if, and only if, a prefix of the input sequence matches this matcher's pattern

        return match(from, NOANCHOR);
    
booleanmatch(int from, int anchor)
Initiates a search for an anchored match to a Pattern within the given bounds. The groups are filled with default values and the match of the root of the state machine is called. The state machine will hold the state of the match as it proceeds in this matcher.

        this.hitEnd = false;
        this.requireEnd = false;
        from        = from < 0 ? 0 : from;
        this.first  = from;
        this.oldLast = oldLast < 0 ? from : oldLast;
        for (int i = 0; i < groups.length; i++)
            groups[i] = -1;
        acceptMode = anchor;
        boolean result = parentPattern.matchRoot.match(this, from, text);
        if (!result)
            this.first = -1;
        this.oldLast = this.last;
        return result;
    
public booleanmatches()
Attempts to match the entire region against the pattern.

If the match succeeds then more information can be obtained via the start, end, and group methods.

return
true if, and only if, the entire region sequence matches this matcher's pattern

        return match(from, ENDANCHOR);
    
public java.util.regex.Patternpattern()
Returns the pattern that is interpreted by this matcher.

return
The pattern for which this matcher was created

        return parentPattern;
    
public static java.lang.StringquoteReplacement(java.lang.String s)
Returns a literal replacement String for the specified String. This method produces a String that will work as a literal replacement s in the appendReplacement method of the {@link Matcher} class. The String produced will match the sequence of characters in s treated as a literal sequence. Slashes ('\') and dollar signs ('$') will be given no special meaning.

param
s The string to be literalized
return
A literal string replacement
since
1.5

        if ((s.indexOf('\\") == -1) && (s.indexOf('$") == -1))
            return s;
        StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
        for (int i=0; i<s.length(); i++) {
            char c = s.charAt(i);
            if (c == '\\") {
                sb.append('\\"); sb.append('\\");
            } else if (c == '$") {
                sb.append('\\"); sb.append('$");
            } else {
                sb.append(c);
            }
        }
        return sb.toString();
    
public java.util.regex.Matcherregion(int start, int end)
Sets the limits of this matcher's region. The region is the part of the input sequence that will be searched to find a match. Invoking this method resets the matcher, and then sets the region to start at the index specified by the start parameter and end at the index specified by the end parameter.

Depending on the transparency and anchoring being used (see {@link #useTransparentBounds useTransparentBounds} and {@link #useAnchoringBounds useAnchoringBounds}), certain constructs such as anchors may behave differently at or around the boundaries of the region.

param
start The index to start searching at (inclusive)
param
end The index to end searching at (exclusive)
throws
IndexOutOfBoundsException If start or end is less than zero, if start is greater than the length of the input sequence, if end is greater than the length of the input sequence, or if start is greater than end.
return
this matcher
since
1.5

        if ((start < 0) || (start > getTextLength()))
            throw new IndexOutOfBoundsException("start");
        if ((end < 0) || (end > getTextLength()))
            throw new IndexOutOfBoundsException("end");
        if (start > end)
            throw new IndexOutOfBoundsException("start > end");
        reset();
        from = start;
        to = end;
        return this;
    
public intregionEnd()
Reports the end index (exclusive) of this matcher's region. The searches this matcher conducts are limited to finding matches within {@link #regionStart regionStart} (inclusive) and {@link #regionEnd regionEnd} (exclusive).

return
the ending point of this matcher's region
since
1.5

        return to;
    
public intregionStart()
Reports the start index of this matcher's region. The searches this matcher conducts are limited to finding matches within {@link #regionStart regionStart} (inclusive) and {@link #regionEnd regionEnd} (exclusive).

return
The starting point of this matcher's region
since
1.5

        return from;
    
public java.lang.StringreplaceAll(java.lang.String replacement)
Replaces every subsequence of the input sequence that matches the pattern with the given replacement string.

This method first resets this matcher. It then scans the input sequence looking for matches of the pattern. Characters that are not part of any match are appended directly to the result string; each match is replaced in the result by the replacement string. The replacement string may contain references to captured subsequences as in the {@link #appendReplacement appendReplacement} method.

Note that backslashes (\) and dollar signs ($) in the replacement string may cause the results to be different than if it were being treated as a literal replacement string. Dollar signs may be treated as references to captured subsequences as described above, and backslashes are used to escape literal characters in the replacement string.

Given the regular expression a*b, the input "aabfooaabfooabfoob", and the replacement string "-", an invocation of this method on a matcher for that expression would yield the string "-foo-foo-foo-".

Invoking this method changes this matcher's state. If the matcher is to be used in further matching operations then it should first be reset.

param
replacement The replacement string
return
The string constructed by replacing each matching subsequence by the replacement string, substituting captured subsequences as needed

        reset();
        boolean result = find();
        if (result) {
            StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
            do {
                appendReplacement(sb, replacement);
                result = find();
            } while (result);
            appendTail(sb);
            return sb.toString();
        }
        return text.toString();
    
public java.lang.StringreplaceFirst(java.lang.String replacement)
Replaces the first subsequence of the input sequence that matches the pattern with the given replacement string.

This method first resets this matcher. It then scans the input sequence looking for a match of the pattern. Characters that are not part of the match are appended directly to the result string; the match is replaced in the result by the replacement string. The replacement string may contain references to captured subsequences as in the {@link #appendReplacement appendReplacement} method.

Note that backslashes (\) and dollar signs ($) in the replacement string may cause the results to be different than if it were being treated as a literal replacement string. Dollar signs may be treated as references to captured subsequences as described above, and backslashes are used to escape literal characters in the replacement string.

Given the regular expression dog, the input "zzzdogzzzdogzzz", and the replacement string "cat", an invocation of this method on a matcher for that expression would yield the string "zzzcatzzzdogzzz".

Invoking this method changes this matcher's state. If the matcher is to be used in further matching operations then it should first be reset.

param
replacement The replacement string
return
The string constructed by replacing the first matching subsequence by the replacement string, substituting captured subsequences as needed

        if (replacement == null)
            throw new NullPointerException("replacement");
        StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
        reset();
        if (find())
            appendReplacement(sb, replacement);
        appendTail(sb);
        return sb.toString();
    
public booleanrequireEnd()

Returns true if more input could change a positive match into a negative one.

If this method returns true, and a match was found, then more input could cause the match to be lost. If this method returns false and a match was found, then more input might change the match but the match won't be lost. If a match was not found, then requireEnd has no meaning.

return
true iff more input could change a positive match into a negative one.
since
1.5

        return requireEnd;
    
public java.util.regex.Matcherreset()
Resets this matcher.

Resetting a matcher discards all of its explicit state information and sets its append position to zero. The matcher's region is set to the default region, which is its entire character sequence. The anchoring and transparency of this matcher's region boundaries are unaffected.

return
This matcher

        first = -1;
        last = 0;
        oldLast = -1;
        for(int i=0; i<groups.length; i++)
            groups[i] = -1;
        for(int i=0; i<locals.length; i++)
            locals[i] = -1;
        lastAppendPosition = 0;
        from = 0;
        to = getTextLength();
	return this;
    
public java.util.regex.Matcherreset(java.lang.CharSequence input)
Resets this matcher with a new input sequence.

Resetting a matcher discards all of its explicit state information and sets its append position to zero. The matcher's region is set to the default region, which is its entire character sequence. The anchoring and transparency of this matcher's region boundaries are unaffected.

param
input The new input character sequence
return
This matcher

        text = input;
        return reset();
    
booleansearch(int from)
Initiates a search to find a Pattern within the given bounds. The groups are filled with default values and the match of the root of the state machine is called. The state machine will hold the state of the match as it proceeds in this matcher. Matcher.from is not set here, because it is the "hard" boundary of the start of the search which anchors will set to. The from param is the "soft" boundary of the start of the search, meaning that the regex tries to match at that index but ^ won't match there. Subsequent calls to the search methods start at a new "soft" boundary which is the end of the previous match.

        this.hitEnd = false;
        this.requireEnd = false;
        from        = from < 0 ? 0 : from;
        this.first  = from;
        this.oldLast = oldLast < 0 ? from : oldLast;
        for (int i = 0; i < groups.length; i++)
            groups[i] = -1;
        acceptMode = NOANCHOR;
        boolean result = parentPattern.root.match(this, from, text);
        if (!result)
            this.first = -1;
        this.oldLast = this.last;
        return result;
    
public intstart()
Returns the start index of the previous match.

return
The index of the first character matched
throws
IllegalStateException If no match has yet been attempted, or if the previous match operation failed

        if (first < 0)
            throw new IllegalStateException("No match available");
        return first;
    
public intstart(int group)
Returns the start index of the subsequence captured by the given group during the previous match operation.

Capturing groups are indexed from left to right, starting at one. Group zero denotes the entire pattern, so the expression m.start(0) is equivalent to m.start().

param
group The index of a capturing group in this matcher's pattern
return
The index of the first character captured by the group, or -1 if the match was successful but the group itself did not match anything
throws
IllegalStateException If no match has yet been attempted, or if the previous match operation failed
throws
IndexOutOfBoundsException If there is no capturing group in the pattern with the given index

        if (first < 0)
            throw new IllegalStateException("No match available");
        if (group > groupCount())
            throw new IndexOutOfBoundsException("No group " + group);
        return groups[group * 2];
    
public java.util.regex.MatchResulttoMatchResult()
Returns the match state of this matcher as a {@link MatchResult}. The result is unaffected by subsequent operations performed upon this matcher.

return
a MatchResult with the state of this matcher
since
1.5

        Matcher result = new Matcher(this.parentPattern, text.toString());
        result.first = this.first;
        result.last = this.last;
        result.groups = (int[])(this.groups.clone());
        return result;
    
public java.lang.StringtoString()

Returns the string representation of this matcher. The string representation of a Matcher contains information that may be useful for debugging. The exact format is unspecified.

return
The string representation of this matcher
since
1.5

        StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
	sb.append("java.util.regex.Matcher");
	sb.append("[pattern=" + pattern());
	sb.append(" region=");
	sb.append(regionStart() + "," + regionEnd());
        sb.append(" lastmatch=");
        if ((first >= 0) && (group() != null)) {
            sb.append(group());
        }
	sb.append("]");
	return sb.toString();
    
public java.util.regex.MatcheruseAnchoringBounds(boolean b)
Sets the anchoring of region bounds for this matcher.

Invoking this method with an argument of true will set this matcher to use anchoring bounds. If the boolean argument is false, then non-anchoring bounds will be used.

Using anchoring bounds, the boundaries of this matcher's region match anchors such as ^ and $.

Without anchoring bounds, the boundaries of this matcher's region will not match anchors such as ^ and $.

By default, a matcher uses anchoring region boundaries.

param
b a boolean indicating whether or not to use anchoring bounds.
return
this matcher
see
java.util.regex.Matcher#hasAnchoringBounds
since
1.5

        anchoringBounds = b;
        return this;
    
public java.util.regex.MatcherusePattern(java.util.regex.Pattern newPattern)
Changes the Pattern that this Matcher uses to find matches with.

This method causes this matcher to lose information about the groups of the last match that occurred. The matcher's position in the input is maintained and its last append position is unaffected.

param
newPattern The new pattern used by this matcher
return
This matcher
throws
IllegalArgumentException If newPattern is null
since
1.5

        if (newPattern == null)
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Pattern cannot be null");
        parentPattern = newPattern;
     
        // Reallocate state storage
        int parentGroupCount = Math.max(newPattern.capturingGroupCount, 10);
        groups = new int[parentGroupCount * 2];
        locals = new int[newPattern.localCount];
        for (int i = 0; i < groups.length; i++)
            groups[i] = -1;
        for (int i = 0; i < locals.length; i++)
            locals[i] = -1;
        return this;
    
public java.util.regex.MatcheruseTransparentBounds(boolean b)
Sets the transparency of region bounds for this matcher.

Invoking this method with an argument of true will set this matcher to use transparent bounds. If the boolean argument is false, then opaque bounds will be used.

Using transparent bounds, the boundaries of this matcher's region are transparent to lookahead, lookbehind, and boundary matching constructs. Those constructs can see beyond the boundaries of the region to see if a match is appropriate.

Using opaque bounds, the boundaries of this matcher's region are opaque to lookahead, lookbehind, and boundary matching constructs that may try to see beyond them. Those constructs cannot look past the boundaries so they will fail to match anything outside of the region.

By default, a matcher uses opaque bounds.

param
b a boolean indicating whether to use opaque or transparent regions
return
this matcher
see
java.util.regex.Matcher#hasTransparentBounds
since
1.5

        transparentBounds = b;
        return this;