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### basic_regex

##### Synopsis

    #include <boost/regex.hpp>

The template class `basic_regex` encapsulates regular expression parsing and compilation. The class takes two template parameters:

- `charT`: determines the character type, i.e. either `char` or `wchar_t`; see charT concept.
- `traits`: determines the behavior of the character type, for example which character class names are recognized. A default traits class is provided: `regex_traits<charT>`. See also traits concept.

For ease of use there are two typedefs that define the two standard `basic_regex` instances, unless you want to use custom traits classes or non-standard character types (for example see unicode support), you won't need to use anything other than these:

    namespace boost{

    template <class charT, class traits = regex_traits<charT>  >
    class basic_regex;

    typedef basic_regex<char>      regex;
    typedef basic_regex<wchar_t>   wregex;

    }

The definition of `basic_regex` follows: it is based very closely on class `basic_string`, and fulfils the requirements for a constant-container of `charT`.

    namespace boost{

    template <class  charT, class traits = regex_traits<charT> >
    class basic_regex {
       public:
       // types:
       typedef          charT                                value_type;
       typedef          implementation-specific              const_iterator;
       typedef          const_iterator                       iterator;
       typedef          charT&                               reference;
       typedef          const charT&                         const_reference;
       typedef          std::ptrdiff_t                       difference_type;
       typedef          std::size_t                          size_type;
       typedef          regex_constants:: syntax_option_type  flag_type;
       typedef typename traits::locale_type                  locale_type;

       // constants:
       // main option selection:
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type normal
                                                    = regex_constants::normal;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type ECMAScript
                                                    = normal;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type JavaScript
                                                    = normal;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type JScript
                                                    = normal;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type basic
                                                    = regex_constants::basic;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type extended
                                                    = regex_constants::extended;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type awk
                                                    = regex_constants::awk;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type grep
                                                    = regex_constants::grep;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type egrep
                                                    = regex_constants::egrep;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type sed
                                                    = basic = regex_constants::sed;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type perl
                                                    = regex_constants::perl;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type literal
                                                    = regex_constants::literal;

       // modifiers specific to perl expressions:
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type no_mod_m
                                                    = regex_constants::no_mod_m;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type no_mod_s
                                                    = regex_constants::no_mod_s;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type mod_s
                                                    = regex_constants::mod_s;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type mod_x
                                                    = regex_constants::mod_x;

       // modifiers specific to POSIX basic expressions:
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type bk_plus_qm
                                                    = regex_constants::bk_plus_qm;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type bk_vbar
                                                    = regex_constants::bk_vbar
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type no_char_classes
                                                    = regex_constants::no_char_classes
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type no_intervals
                                                    = regex_constants::no_intervals

       // common modifiers:
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type nosubs
                                                    = regex_constants::nosubs;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type optimize
                                                    = regex_constants::optimize;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type collate
                                                    = regex_constants::collate;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type newline_alt
                                                    = regex_constants::newline_alt;
       static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type no_except
                                                    = regex_constants::newline_alt;

       // construct/copy/destroy:
       explicit basic_regex ();
       explicit basic_regex(const  charT* p, flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);
       basic_regex(const charT* p1, const  charT* p2,
                   flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);
       basic_regex(const charT* p, size_type len, flag_type  f);
       basic_regex(const basic_regex&);

       template <class ST, class SA>
       explicit basic_regex(const basic_string<charT, ST,  SA>& p,
                            flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);

       template <class InputIterator>
       basic_regex(InputIterator first,  InputIterator last,
                   flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);

       ~basic_regex();
       basic_regex& operator=(const basic_regex&);
       basic_regex& operator= (const charT* ptr);

       template <class ST, class SA>
       basic_regex& operator= (const basic_string<charT, ST, SA>& p);
       // iterators:
       const_iterator begin() const;
       const_iterator end() const;
       // capacity:
       size_type size() const;
       size_type max_size() const;
       bool empty() const;
       unsigned mark_count()const;
       //
       // modifiers:
       basic_regex& assign(const basic_regex& that);
       basic_regex& assign(const charT* ptr,
                           flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);
       basic_regex& assign(const charT* ptr, unsigned int len, flag_type f);

       template <class string_traits, class A>
       basic_regex& assign(const basic_string<charT, string_traits, A>& s,
                           flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);

       template <class InputIterator>
       basic_regex& assign(InputIterator first, InputIterator last,
                           flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);

       // const operations:
       flag_type flags() const;
       int status()const;
       basic_string<charT> str() const;
       int compare(basic_regex&) const;
       // locale:
       locale_type imbue(locale_type loc);
       locale_type getloc() const;
       // swap
       void swap(basic_regex&) throw();
    };

    template <class charT, class traits>
    bool operator == (const basic_regex<charT, traits>& lhs,
                      const basic_regex<charT, traits>& rhs);

    template <class charT, class traits>
    bool operator != (const basic_regex<charT, traits>& lhs,
                      const basic_regex<charT, traits>& rhs);

    template <class charT, class traits>
    bool operator < (const basic_regex<charT, traits>& lhs,
                   const basic_regex<charT, traits>& rhs);

    template <class charT, class traits>
    bool operator <= (const basic_regex<charT, traits>& lhs,
                      const basic_regex<charT, traits>& rhs);

    template <class charT, class traits>
    bool operator >= (const basic_regex<charT, traits>& lhs,
                      const basic_regex<charT, traits>& rhs);

    template <class charT, class traits>
    bool operator > (const basic_regex<charT, traits>& lhs,
                   const basic_regex<charT, traits>& rhs);

    template <class charT, class io_traits, class re_traits>
    basic_ostream<charT, io_traits>&
       operator << (basic_ostream<charT, io_traits>& os,
                   const basic_regex<charT, re_traits>& e);

    template <class charT, class traits>
    void swap(basic_regex<charT, traits>& e1,
             basic_regex<charT, traits>& e2);

    typedef basic_regex<char> regex;
    typedef basic_regex<wchar_t> wregex;

    } // namespace boost

##### Description

Class `basic_regex` has the following public members:

    // main option selection:
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type normal
                                              = regex_constants::normal;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type ECMAScript
                                              = normal;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type JavaScript
                                              = normal;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type JScript
                                              = normal;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type basic
                                              = regex_constants::basic;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type extended
                                              = regex_constants::extended;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type awk
                                              = regex_constants::awk;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type grep
                                              = regex_constants::grep;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type egrep
                                              = regex_constants::egrep;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type sed
                                              = regex_constants::sed;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type perl
                                              = regex_constants::perl;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type literal
                                              = regex_constants::literal;

    // modifiers specific to perl expressions:
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type no_mod_m
                                              = regex_constants::no_mod_m;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type no_mod_s
                                              = regex_constants::no_mod_s;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type mod_s
                                              = regex_constants::mod_s;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type mod_x
                                              = regex_constants::mod_x;

    // modifiers specific to POSIX basic expressions:
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type bk_plus_qm
                                              = regex_constants::bk_plus_qm;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type bk_vbar
                                              = regex_constants::bk_vbar
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type no_char_classes
                                              = regex_constants::no_char_classes
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type no_intervals
                                              = regex_constants::no_intervals

    // common modifiers:
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type nosubs
                                              = regex_constants::nosubs;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type optimize
                                              = regex_constants::optimize;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type collate
                                              = regex_constants::collate;
    static const regex_constants:: syntax_option_type newline_alt
                                              = regex_constants::newline_alt;

The meaning of these options is documented in the `syntax_option_type` section.

The static constant members are provided as synonyms for the constants declared in namespace `boost::regex_constants`; for each constant of type `syntax_option_type` declared in namespace `boost::regex_constants` then a constant with the same name, type and value is declared within the scope of basic_regex.

    basic_regex();

Effects: Constructs an object of class `basic_regex`.

Table 1. basic_regex default construction postconditions

Element | Value
--- | ---
`empty()` | `true`
`size()` | `0`
`str()` | `basic_string<charT>()`

    basic_regex(const charT* p, flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);

Requires: p shall not be a null pointer.

Throws: `bad_expression` if p is not a valid regular expression, unless the flag `no_except` is set in f.

Effects: Constructs an object of class `basic_regex`; the object's internal finite state machine is constructed from the regular expression contained in the null-terminated string p, and interpreted according to the option flags specified in f.

Table 2. Postconditions for basic_regex construction

Element | Value
--- | ---
`empty()` | `false`
`size()` | `char_traits<charT>::length(p)`
`str()` | `basic_string<charT>(p)`
`flags()` | f
`mark_count()` | The number of marked sub-expressions within the expression.

    basic_regex(const charT* p1, const charT* p2,
                flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);

Requires: p1 and p2 are not null pointers, `p1 < p2`.

Throws: bad_expression if [p1,p2) is not a valid regular expression, unless the flag `no_except` is set in f.

Effects: Constructs an object of class `basic_regex`; the object's internal finite state machine is constructed from the regular expression contained in the sequence of characters [p1,p2), and interpreted according the option flags specified in f.

Table 3. Postconditions for basic_regex construction

Element | Value
--- | ---
`empty()` | `false`
`size()` | `std::distance(p1,p2)`
`str()` | `basic_string<charT>(p1,p2)`
`flags()` | f
`mark_count()` | The number of marked sub-expressions within the expression.

    basic_regex(const charT* p, size_type len, flag_type f);

Requires: p shall not be a null pointer, `len < max_size()`.

Throws: `bad_expression` if p is not a valid regular expression, unless the flag `no_except` is set in f.

Effects: Constructs an object of class `basic_regex`; the object's internal finite state machine is constructed from the regular expression contained in the sequence of characters [p, p+len), and interpreted according the option flags specified in f.

Table 4. Postconditions for basic_regex construction

Element | Value
--- | ---
`empty()` | `false`
`size()` | len
`str()` | `basic_string<charT>(p, len)`
`flags()` | f
`mark_count()` | The number of marked sub-expressions within the expression.

    basic_regex(const basic_regex& e);

Effects: Constructs an object of class `basic_regex` as a copy of the object e.

    template <class ST, class SA>
    basic_regex(const basic_string<charT, ST, SA>& s,
                flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);

Throws: `bad_expression` if s is not a valid regular expression, unless the flag `no_except` is set in f.

Effects: Constructs an object of class `basic_regex`; the object's internal finite state machine is constructed from the regular expression contained in the string s, and interpreted according to the option flags specified in f.

Table 5. Postconditions for basic_regex construction

Element | Value
--- | ---
`empty()` | `false`
`size()` | `s.size()`
`str()` | s
`flags()` | f
`mark_count()` | The number of marked sub-expressions within the expression.

    template <class ForwardIterator>
    basic_regex(ForwardIterator first, ForwardIterator last,
                flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);

Throws: `bad_expression` if the sequence [first, last) is not a valid regular expression, unless the flag `no_except` is set in f.

Effects: Constructs an object of class `basic_regex`; the object's internal finite state machine is constructed from the regular expression contained in the sequence of characters [first, last), and interpreted according to the option flags specified in f.

Table 6. Postconditions for basic_regex construction

Element | Value
--- | ---
`empty()` | `false`
`size()` | `distance(first,last)`
`str()` | `basic_string<charT>(first,last)`
`flags()` | f
`mark_count()` | The number of marked sub-expressions within the expression.

    basic_regex& operator=(const basic_regex& e);

Effects: Returns the result of `assign(e.str(), e.flags())`.

    basic_regex& operator=(const charT* ptr);

Requires: p shall not be a null pointer.

Effects: Returns the result of `assign(ptr)`.

    template <class ST, class SA>
    basic_regex& operator=(const basic_string<charT, ST, SA>& p);

Effects: Returns the result of `assign(p)`.

    const_iterator begin() const;

Effects: Returns a starting iterator to a sequence of characters representing the regular expression.

    const_iterator end() const;

Effects: Returns termination iterator to a sequence of characters representing the regular expression.

    size_type size() const;

Effects: Returns the length of the sequence of characters representing the regular expression.

    size_type max_size() const;

Effects: Returns the maximum length of the sequence of characters representing the regular expression.

    bool empty() const;

Effects: Returns true if the object does not contain a valid regular expression, otherwise false.

    unsigned mark_count() const;

Effects: Returns the number of marked sub-expressions within the regular expresion.

    basic_regex& assign(const basic_regex& that);

Effects: Returns `assign(that.str(), that.flags())`.

    basic_regex& assign(const charT* ptr, flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);

Effects: Returns `assign(string_type(ptr), f)`.

    basic_regex& assign(const charT* ptr, unsigned int len, flag_type f);

Effects: Returns `assign(string_type(ptr, len), f)`.

    template <class string_traits, class A>
    basic_regex& assign(const basic_string<charT, string_traits, A>& s,
                      flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);

Throws: `bad_expression` if s is not a valid regular expression, unless the flag `no_except` is set in f.

Returns: *this.

Effects: Assigns the regular expression contained in the string s, interpreted according the option flags specified in f.

Table 7. Postconditions for basic_regex::assign

Element | Value
--- | ---
`empty()` | `false`
`size()` | `s.size()`
`str()` | s
`flags()` | f
`mark_count()` | The number of marked sub-expressions within the expression.

    template <class InputIterator>
    basic_regex& assign(InputIterator first, InputIterator last,
                        flag_type f = regex_constants::normal);

Requires: The type `InputIterator` corresponds to the Input Iterator requirements (24.1.1).

Effects: Returns `assign(string_type(first, last), f)`.

    flag_type flags() const;

Effects: Returns a copy of the regular expression syntax flags that were passed to the object's constructor, or the last call to `assign`.

    int status() const;

Effects: Returns zero if the expression contains a valid regular expression, otherwise an error code. This member function is retained for use in environments that cannot use exception handling.

    basic_string<charT> str() const;

Effects: Returns a copy of the character sequence passed to the object's constructor, or the last call to assign.

    int compare(basic_regex& e)const;

Effects: If `flags() == e.flags()` then returns `str().compare(e.str())`, otherwise returns `flags() - e.flags()`.

    locale_type imbue(locale_type l);

Effects: Returns the result of `traits_inst.imbue(l)` where `traits_inst` is a (default initialized) instance of the template parameter `traits` stored within the object. Calls to `imbue` invalidate any currently contained regular expression.

Postcondition: `empty() == true`.

    locale_type getloc() const;

Effects: Returns the result of `traits_inst.getloc()` where `traits_inst` is a (default initialized) instance of the template parameter traits stored within the object.

    void swap(basic_regex& e) throw();

Effects: Swaps the contents of the two regular expressions.

Postcondition: `*this` contains the regular expression that was in e, e contains the regular expression that was in `*this`.

Complexity: constant time.

| Note
Comparisons between `basic_regex` objects are provided on an experimental basis: please note that these are not present in the Technical Report on C++ Library Extensions, so use with care if you are writing code that may need to be ported to other implementations of `basic_regex`.

    template <class charT, class traits>
    bool operator == (const basic_regex<charT, traits>& lhs,
                      const basic_regex<charT, traits>& rhs);

Effects: Returns `lhs.compare(rhs) == 0`.

    template <class charT, class traits>
    bool operator != (const basic_regex<charT, traits>& lhs,
                      const basic_regex<charT, traits>& rhs);

Effects: Returns `lhs.compare(rhs) != 0`.

    template <class charT, class traits>
    bool operator < (const basic_regex<charT, traits>& lhs,
                   const basic_regex<charT, traits>& rhs);

Effects: Returns `lhs.compare(rhs) < 0`.

    template <class charT, class traits>
    bool operator <= (const basic_regex<charT, traits>& lhs,
                      const basic_regex<charT, traits>& rhs);

Effects: Returns `lhs.compare(rhs) <= 0`.

    template <class charT, class traits>
    bool operator >= (const basic_regex<charT, traits>& lhs,
                      const basic_regex<charT, traits>& rhs);

Effects: Returns `lhs.compare(rhs) >= 0`.

    template <class charT, class traits>
    bool operator > (const basic_regex<charT, traits>& lhs,
                   const basic_regex<charT, traits>& rhs);

Effects: Returns `lhs.compare(rhs) > 0`.

| Note
The basic_regex stream inserter is provided on an experimental basis, and outputs the textual representation of the expression to the stream.

    template <class charT, class io_traits, class re_traits>
    basic_ostream<charT, io_traits>&
       operator << (basic_ostream<charT, io_traits>& os
                   const basic_regex<charT, re_traits>& e);

Effects: Returns `(os << e.str())`.

    template <class charT, class traits>
    void swap(basic_regex<charT, traits>& lhs,
             basic_regex<charT, traits>& rhs);

Effects: calls `lhs.swap(rhs)`.