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Python Regular Expressions in Python Introduction to Regular Expressions Escapes

Anish Walawalkar
Anish Walawalkar
8,534 Points
Posted by Anish Walawalkar
Anish Walawalkar
8,534 Points

Python regexp problem. re.search(), didnt get the correct match

dont know exactly what the problem with my re.search() is in numbers()? Question: Write a function numbers() that takes 2 arguments, a counter and a string, returns a search object containing the count # of characters

escapes.py 
import re
def first_number(string):
  return re.search('\d', string)

def numbers(count, string):
  return re.search(r"\w"*count, string)
Ira Bradley
Ira Bradley
12,976 Points

It shouldn't be \w - it should be \dlike this:

import re

def first_number(string):
  return re.search('\d', string)

def numbers(count, string):
  return re.search(r'\d' * count, string)

2 Answers

Robert Richey
Robert Richey
Courses Plus Student 16,352 Points

Hi Anish,

The pattern needs to match numbers only, not alphanumeric characters.

  • Return a match for exactly count numbers in the string
Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
3,273 Points
Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
3,273 Points

Look at your search pattern in numbers:

+What does \w return?

+What is the question asking you to return?