asFewOfPattern

Match pattern as few times as possible

Since R2020b

Syntax

newpat = asFewOfPattern(pat)

newpat = asFewOfPattern(pat,minPattern)

newpat = asFewOfPattern(pat,minPattern,maxPattern)

Description

newpat = asFewOfPattern(pat) creates a pattern that matches as few consecutive instances of pat as possible, including zero times.

newpat = asFewOfPattern(pat,minPattern) specifies a minimum number of consecutive instances to match with minPattern.

newpat = asFewOfPattern(pat,minPattern,maxPattern) specifies a minimum and a maximum number of consecutive instances to match. asFewOfPattern matches at least minPattern consecutive instances, but no more than maxPattern.

Examples

Match as Few Instances of Pattern as Possible

Use asFewOfPattern to match as few individual letters as possible between two instances of "b".

Create txt as a string. Create a pattern, pat, that matches as few of the letters "a" or "b" as possible between two instances of the character "b".

txt = "bb bab babab babaaabab";
pat = "b" + asFewOfPattern("a"|"b") + "b";

Use replace to replace text matched by pat with the character "*".

replace(txt,pat,"*")

ans = 
"* * *ab *aaa*"

Specify Minimum Instances of Pattern to Match

Use asFewOfPattern to match as few individual letters as possible between two instances of "b" but require at least three letters.

Create txt as a string. Create a pattern, pat, that matches as few of the letters "a" or "b" possible between two instances of the character "b", but specify that there must be a minimum of three matched letters.

txt = "bb bab babab babaaabab";
pat = "b" + asFewOfPattern("a"|"b",3) + "b";

Use replace to replace text matched by pat with the character "*".

replace(txt,pat,"*")

ans = 
"bb bab * *ab"

Specify Minimum and Maximum Instances of Pattern to Match

Use asFewOfPattern to match as few individual letters as possible between two instances of "b", but require at least three and no more than four letters.

Create txt as a string. Create a pattern, pat, that will match as few of the letters "a" or "b" as possible between two instances of the character "b", but specify that there must be a minimum of three and no more than four letters.

txt = "bb bab babab babaaabab";
pat = "b" + asFewOfPattern("a"|"b",3,4) + "b";

Use replace to replace text matched by pat with the character "*".

replace(txt,pat,"*")

ans = 
"bb bab * ba*ab"

Input Arguments

pat — Input pattern

pattern array | string array | character vector | cell array of character vectors

Input pattern, specified as a pattern, string array, character vector, or cell array of character vectors.

Data Types: char | string | pattern | cell

minPattern — Minimum number instances to match

nonnegative integer scalar

Minimum number of consecutive instances to match, specified as a nonnegative integer scalar.

Data Types: single | double

maxPattern — Maximum number instances to match

nonnegative integer scalar

Maximum number of consecutive instances to match, specified as a nonnegative integer scalar.

Data Types: single | double

Output Arguments

newpat — Output pattern

pattern (default) | array of pattern objects

Output pattern, returned as a pattern or an array of pattern objects.

Extended Capabilities

Thread-Based Environment
Run code in the background using MATLAB® backgroundPool or accelerate code with Parallel Computing Toolbox™ ThreadPool.

Version History

Introduced in R2020b