JavaScript String match()
Examples
A search for "ain" using a string:
let text = "The rain in SPAIN stays mainly in the plain";
text.match("ain");
Try it Yourself »text.match("ain");
A search for "ain" using a regular expression:
let text = "The rain in SPAIN stays mainly in the plain";
text.match(/ain/);
Try it Yourself »text.match(/ain/);
A global search for "ain":
let text = "The rain in SPAIN stays mainly in the plain";
text.match(/ain/g);
Try it Yourself »text.match(/ain/g);
A global, case-insensitive search:
let text = "The rain in SPAIN stays mainly in the plain";
text.match(/ain/gi);
Try it Yourself »text.match(/ain/gi);
Description
Thematch() method matches a string against a regular expression **
Thematch() method returns an array with the matches.
Thematch() method returnsnull if no match is found.
Note
** If the search value is a string, it is converted to a regular expression.
See Also:
Syntax
string.match(match)
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
| match | Required. The search value. A regular expression (or a string that will be converted to a regular expression). |
Return Values
| Type | Description |
| An array or null | An array containing the matches.null if no match is found. |
The Difference Between
String match() and String search()
Thematch() method returns an array of matches.
Thesearch() method returns the position of the first match.
Regular Expression Methods
Regular ExpressionSearch andReplace can be done with different methods.
These are the most common:
String Methods
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| match(regex) | Returns an Array of results |
| matchAll(regex) | Returns an Iterator of results |
| replace(regex) | Returns a new String |
| replaceAll(regex) | Returns a new String |
| search(regex) | Returns the index of the first match |
| split(regex) | Returns an Array of results |
RegExp Methods
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| regex.exec() | Returns an Iterator of results |
| regex.test() | Returns true or false |
Browser Support
string.match() is an ECMAScript1 (JavaScript 1997) feature.
It is supported in all browsers:
| Chrome | Edge | Firefox | Safari | Opera |
