Python Programming for Biology: Bioinformatics and Beyond

Method

Description

re.compile(patt,

flags)

Creates a RegexpObject from a pattern string.

re.escape(text)

Creates a string where non-alphanumeric characters are

escaped, by putting a backslash in front.

re.findall(patt,

text)

or

reObj.findall(text,

start, end)

Creates a list of substrings that match a pattern.

re.finditer(patt,

text)

or

reObj.finditer(text,

start, end)

Like .findall() but generates an iterator that gives back

objects of type MatchObject.

re.match(patt,

text)

or

reObj.match(text,

start, end)

Creates a MatchObject if a pattern matches the start of a

string, gives None otherwise.

re.search(patt,

text)

Create a MatchObject if a pattern matches within a string,

gives None otherwise.

---

or

reObj.search(text,

start, end)

re.split(patt, text,

maxNum)

or

reObj.split(text)

Splits a string into a list of strings according to where a

pattern matches. Optional maximum number of splits to

perform.

re.sub(patt, repl,

text, maxNum)

or

reObj.sub(repl,

text, maxNum)

Creates a new string by replacing all matches to a pattern

with a replacement substring. Optional maximum number of

replacements can be given.

re.subn(patt, repl,

text, maxNum)

or

reObj.sub(repl,

text, maxNum)

As above but also reports the number of substitutions made.

Output is a tuple (newString, numSubs).

The  following  tables  lists  selected  methods  of  the  re.MatchObject,  as  given  by

re.search() etc.