Regular Expressions have a somewhat negative connotation for most of us: unreadable syntax, too complex and cryptic ... You try to keep away from them where possible. This workshop finally makes an end to this attitude!

Whether you are a developer, a system administrator or a data analyst, you regularly need pattern matching: text analysis, complex searches, validating (web) forms ... Regular expressions have evolved over the years from within Unix and Perl into a really universal standard technique for pattern recognition, in all kinds of contexts: Linux, Python, Java/Scala, dotNet, Perl, XML, SQL, PHP, Ruby, JavaScript ...

Pattern matching: it's more than just getting hold of certain text characters; it is a particular and unique way to explore and parse data.

During this compact training

• we will focus on the syntax of regular expressions,
• we look for best practices, so that you can apply them optimally,
• we'll be writing surprisingly clear and readable patterns.

• Strategies and best practices
• Syntax
  • Literals
  • Escapes
  • Wildcards and repetitions; greedy, lazy and possessive matching
  • Anchors
  • Ranges and categories
  • Grouping
  • Alternatives
• Implementations and variants
  • POSIX Basic Regular Expressions
  • POSIX Extended Regular Expressions
  • Perl Regular Expressions
  • Language dependent variants (Perl/PHP, XML, SQL, Python, Java, Scala, Ruby, JavaScript, ...) and parsing options
• Tools and editors

Classroom training, with practical examples and supported by exercises.

Delivered as a live, interactive training – available in-person or online, or in a hybrid format. Training can be implemented in English, Dutch, or French.

This course does not require any specific prior knowledge.

Developers, engineers, data analysts, system programmers, system administrators ...