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Python Regular Expressions in Python Introduction to Regular Expressions Players Dictionary and Class

Dileep Kumar
Dileep Kumar
10,433 Points

Can someone help me with why this regex doesn't match multiline

import re

string = '''Love, Kenneth: 20 Chalkley, Andrew: 25 McFarland, Dave: 10 Kesten, Joy: 22 Stewart Pinchback, Pinckney Benton: 18'''

players = re.search(r'(?P<last_name>\w+(\s\w+)?),\s(?P<first_name>\w+(\s\w+)?):\s(?P<score>\d+)',string,re.M)

players = re.match(r''' ^(?P<last_name>\w+(\s\w+)?),\s (?P<first_name>\w+(\s\w+)?):\s (?P<score>\d+)$ ''',string,re.MULTILINE|re.X)

players.py
import re

string = '''Love, Kenneth: 20
Chalkley, Andrew: 25
McFarland, Dave: 10
Kesten, Joy: 22
Stewart Pinchback, Pinckney Benton: 18'''

#players = re.search(r'(?P<last_name>\w+(\s\w+)?),\s(?P<first_name>\w+(\s\w+)?):\s(?P<score>\d+)',string,re.M)
players = re.match(r'''
^(?P<last_name>\w+(\s\w+)?),\s
(?P<first_name>\w+(\s\w+)?):\s
(?P<score>\d+)$
''',string,re.MULTILINE|re.X)

2 Answers

Kenneth Love
STAFF
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher

Another example of my validation being a bit too picky. Since you're using extra groups for the optional extra words in the names, my comparison was wrong and it triggered the fail state. I've fixed it so you should be able to pass now.

In the future, though, it's generally better to use sets to define options instead of bringing it more groups. Groups cause the regex engine to do more work and can make it harder to get the index number for a particular match.

Dileep Kumar
Dileep Kumar
10,433 Points

Thanks Mr. Love :) I am able to go to next stage.

Have a nice day! Rgds. Dileep