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Python Regular Expressions in Python Introduction to Regular Expressions Name Groups

Posted by Steve Willers
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Steve Willers
Python Web Development Techdegree Student 1,958 Points

Can't select the first and last name in different groups for the code challenge.

I have been stuck on this for hours, regex is very frustrating.

names.py 
import re

string = 'Perotto, Pier Giorgio'
names = re.match('''
    (?P<last_name>[-\w]+,\s)  # last name
    (?P<first_name>[-\w]+\s[-\w]+)  # first name
    ''', string, re.M|re.X)
Steve Willers
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Steve Willers
Python Web Development Techdegree Student 1,958 Points

This is the best that I've got so far:

name = re.match('''
    (?P<last_name>[-\w]+,\s)  # last name
    (?P<first_name>[-\w]+\s[-\w]+)  # first name
    ''', string, re.M|re.X)

Which gave me:

{'last_name': 'Perotto, ', 'first_name': 'Pier Giorgio'}

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points

You are sooooo close. You just need to exclude the separator from the last name group (by moving the closing parenthesis):

names = re.match('''
    (?P<last_name>[-\w]+),\s  # last name
    (?P<first_name>[-\w]+\s[-\w]+)  # first name
    ''', string, re.M|re.X)
Steve Willers
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Steve Willers
Python Web Development Techdegree Student 1,958 Points

It's always the simplest things that get me! Thanks!