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Python Regular Expressions in Python Introduction to Regular Expressions Name Groups

Posted by Vamsi Pavan Mahesh Gunturu
Vamsi Pavan Mahesh Gunturu
4,541 Points

Could not catch names properly

what might be the fault of regex

names.py 
import re

string = 'Perotto, Pier Giorgio'
names = re.match(r'''
  ^([,\s\w-]*) #firstname
  ([\w-]*)$ #lastname
  ''',string,re.M|re.X|re.I)

1 Answer

Kenneth Love
STAFF
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher
Kenneth Love
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher

Patterns match left-to-right, so you need to catch the last name, "Perotto" first. The first name has two parts, so be sure to allow spaces in your pattern. The comma is not part of either name, it's the separator.