.net - How to use inline modifiers in C# regex?

Question

How do I use the inline modifiers instead of RegexOptions.Option?

For example:

Regex MyRegex = new Regex(@"[a-z]+", RegexOptions.IgnoreCase);

How do I rewrite this using the inline character i?

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/yd1hzczs.aspx

Answer 1

You can use inline modifiers as follows:

// case insensitive match
Regex MyRegex = new Regex(@"(?i)[a-z]+");  // case insensitive match

or, inverse the meaning of the modifier by adding a minus-sign:

// case sensitive match
Regex MyRegex = new Regex(@"(?-i)[a-z]+");  // case sensitive match

or, switch them on and off:

// case sensitive, then case-insensitive match
Regex MyRegex = new Regex(@"(?-i)[a-z]+(?i)[k-n]+");

Alternatively, you can use the mode-modifier span syntax using a colon : and a grouping parenthesis, which scopes the modifier to only that group:

// case sensitive, then case-insensitive match
Regex MyRegex = new Regex(@"(?-i:[a-z]+)(?i:[k-n]+)");

You can use multiple modifiers in one go like this (?is-m:text), or after another, if you find that clearer (?i)(?s)(?-m)text (I don't). When you use the on/off switching syntax, be aware that the modifier works till the next switch, or the end of the regex. Conversely, using the mode-modified spans, after the span the default behavior will apply.

Finally: the allowed modifiers in .NET are (use a minus to invert the mode):

x allow whitespace and comments
s single-line mode
m multi-line mode
i case insensitivity
n only allow explicit capture (.NET specific)