Book Image

Mastering Python Regular Expressions

Book Image

Mastering Python Regular Expressions

Overview of this book

Regular expressions are used by many text editors, utilities, and programming languages to search and manipulate text based on patterns. They are considered the Swiss army knife of text processing. Powerful search, replacement, extraction and validation of strings, repetitive and complex tasks are reduced to a simple pattern using regular expressions. Mastering Python Regular Expressions will teach you about Regular Expressions, starting from the basics, irrespective of the language being used, and then it will show you how to use them in Python. You will learn the finer details of what Python supports and how to do it, and the differences between Python 2.x and Python 3.x. The book starts with a general review of the theory behind the regular expressions to follow with an overview of the Python regex module implementation, and then moves on to advanced topics like grouping, looking around, and performance. You will explore how to leverage Regular Expressions in Python, some advanced aspects of Regular Expressions and also how to measure and improve their performance. You will get a better understanding of the working of alternators and quantifiers. Also, you will comprehend the importance of grouping before finally moving on to performance optimization techniques like the RegexBuddy Tool and Backtracking. Mastering Python Regular Expressions provides all the information essential for a better understanding of Regular Expressions in Python.
Table of Contents (12 chapters)

About the Reviewers

Mohit Goenka graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with an M.Sc. in computer science. His thesis emphasized on Game Theory and Human Behavior concepts as applied in real-world security games. He also received an award for academic excellence from the Office of International Services at USC. He has showcased his presence in various realms of computers, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, path planning, multiagent systems, neural networks, computer vision, computer networks, and operating systems.

During his years as a student, Mohit won multiple competitions cracking codes and presented his work on Detection of Untouched UFOs to a wide audience. Not only is he a software developer by profession, but coding is also his hobby. He spends most of his free time learning about new technology and grooming his skills.

What adds a feather to his cap is Mohit's poetic skills. Some of his works are part of the University of Southern California Libraries archive under the cover of The Lewis Carroll Collection. In addition to this, he has made significant contributions by volunteering his time to serve the community.

Jing (Dave) Tian is now a graduate research fellow and a Ph.D student in the computer science department at the University of Oregon. He is a member of OSIRIS lab. His research direction involves system security, embedded system security, trusted computing, and static analysis for security and virtualization. He also spent a year on artificial intelligence and machine learning direction, and taught the Intro to Problem Solving using Python class in the department. Before that, he worked as a software developer at Linux Control Platform (LCP) group in the Alcatel-Lucent (formerly Lucent Technologies) research and development for around four years. He has got B.S. and M.E. degrees from EE in China.