NAME

re_comp, re_exec − Handle regular expressions

LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc.a)

SYNOPSIS

#include <regex.h>

char ∗re_comp(
        char ∗string);

int re_exec(
        char ∗string);

PARAMETERS

stringPoints to the string that is to be matched or converted. 

DESCRIPTION

The re_comp()  function converts a string into an internal form suitable for pattern matching.  The re_exec() function compares the string parameter with the last string passed to the re_comp() function. 

When the re_comp() function is passed a value of 0 (zero) or NULL, the regular expression currently being converted remains unchanged. 

Strings passed to both the re_comp() and re_exec() functions may have trailing or embedded newline characters; however, these strings are terminated by a zero byte.  Recognized regular expressions are described in the grep(1) reference page. 

RETURN VALUES

The re_comp() function returns a value of 0 (zero) when the string pointed to by the string parameter is successfully converted; otherwise, an error message string is returned. 

Upon successful completion, the re_exec() function returns a value of 1 if string matches the last compiled regular expression.  Otherwise, the re_exec() function returns a value of 0 (zero), if string fails to match the last compiled regular expression, and a value of -1, if the compiled regular expression is invalid (indicating an internal error). 

NOTES

These interfaces are obsolete; they do not support multibyte characters and should be avoided.  Use the POSIX regcomp() interface in place of re_comp() and re_exec(). 

RELATED INFORMATION

Functions: regcomp(3). 

Commands: grep(1).