In this chapter, we took a look at what a pattern actually is, and at the kind of data we are able to represent. Regular expressions are simply strings that express these patterns, and combined with functions provided by JavaScript, we are able to match and manipulate user data.

We also covered building a quick RegExp builder that allowed us to get a first-hand look at how to use regular expressions in a real-world setting. In the next chapter, we will continue to use this testing tool to start exploring the RegExp syntax.