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Python Regular Expressions in Python Introduction to Regular Expressions Name Groups

Andrew Gordon
Andrew Gordon
10,178 Points
Posted by Andrew Gordon
Andrew Gordon
10,178 Points

Name Groups Challenge 1/1

I don't understand what I'm missing in regards to this challenge. Sometimes I feel like I over complicate my answers, but I don't feel that is the issue here:

import re

string = 'Perotto, Pier Giorgio'

names = re.match(r'?P<name>(\w, \w)*', string)

Any words of wisdom?

Thanks! Andrew

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,454 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,454 Points

Your regex is not using the correct syntax for a named groups, also challenge wants two groups: firstname, lastname

import re

string = 'Perotto, Pier Giorgio'
ā€‹
names = re.match(r'(?P<lastname>\w+), (?P<firstname>[\w ]+)', string)
Andrew Gordon
Andrew Gordon
10,178 Points
Andrew Gordon
Andrew Gordon
10,178 Points

Ah I see. the syntax did feel off, and I also see that I missed the fact that the challenge wanted two groups, not necessarily for them to be subgroups. Appreciate the input!

jack pincombe
jack pincombe
6,188 Points
jack pincombe
jack pincombe
6,188 Points

I may have missed it in the video but why are there no [] for the \w+ in the last name group but there are for the first name

(?P<lastname>\w+) vs (?P<firstname>[\w ]+)

Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,454 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,454 Points

The [ ] define a character set. Since a match on the last name can be described with a single character pattern there is no need to use the set brackets to define a set.

Set brackets can be used if you wish:

re.match(r'(?P<lastname>\w+), (?P<firstname>[\w ]+)', string)

Is equivalent to

re.match(r'(?P<lastname>[\w]+), (?P<firstname>[\w ]+)', string)