Regex Expression evaluation

Question

I have a string as follows: entries(a,b,c,d,e)

I would like to split the following into an array in java as

 arr[0]= 'a'
 arr[1]= 'b'
 arr[2]= 'c'
 arr[3]= 'd'
 arr[4]= 'e'

Anyone have any idea on the regex to do this?

Why a regex when there is a command to "split' ((cough)blatant hint(cough))? — Jongware, Apr 20 '15 at 08:23
Because the split command takes a regex as an argument? :-) Even if it will contain only one character in this case. — Roger Gustavsson, Apr 20 '15 at 08:24
I have but I am not familiar with regex expressions other than the very basic — Joe Brar, Apr 20 '15 at 08:24
have a look at [this](http://stackoverflow.com/q/3481828/2764279) — earthmover, Apr 20 '15 at 08:26
@Jongware `String#split()` also uses regex. That's why we see questions like "`split(".")` doesn't work" — Alex Salauyou, Apr 20 '15 at 08:27

score 3 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 20 '15 at 13:47

3

String[] arr = "entries(a,b,c,d,e)".split("\\(|\\)")[1].split(",");

Explanation: You have the string "entries(a,b,c,d,e)" and first want to get to the "a,b,c,d,e" part. I use split here and define that I want to split by "(" or ")". Gives me the array

a[0] = "entries"
a[1] = "a,b,c,d,e"

Take the second entry and split it by ",", hence [1].split(",") at the end.

edited Apr 20 '15 at 13:47

Jongware

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answered Apr 20 '15 at 08:31

Roger Gustavsson

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thank you! Can you explain your logic? I do not understand what you did after .split("\\(|\\)") – Joe Brar Apr 20 '15 at 08:36

Regex Expression evaluation

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