Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Python Regular Expressions in Python Introduction to Regular Expressions Name Groups

Posted by Pankaj Gupta
Pankaj Gupta
3,469 Points

names.py

Create a variable names that is an re.match() against string. The pattern should provide two groups, one for a last name match and one for a first name match. The name parts are separated by a comma and a space.

names.py 
import re

string = 'Perotto, Pier Giorgio'
names = re.search(r'''
    (?P<last>[\w,]+)\t
     (?P<first>\b[\w\s]+)
     ''', string, re.X)

1 Answer

Christopher Shaw
seal-mask
PLUS
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Christopher Shaw
Python Web Development Techdegree Graduate 58,248 Points
Christopher Shaw
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Christopher Shaw
Python Web Development Techdegree Graduate 58,248 Points

You are on the right track. After the last name, I have removed your \t and put the comma and white space as these are not part of the group. Then removed the \b from the first name and the unnecessary , re.X.

names = re.search(r'(?P<last>[\w]+),\s(?P<first>[\w\s]+)', string)