Regexp for matching a symbol (identifier) in emacs-lisp

Regexp for matching a symbol (identifier) in emacs-lisp

[Nordlöw]

Does Emacs provide a shorter way of matching an emacs-lisp symbol
(identifier) than the following:
  "\\(" "\\(?:" "\\w\\|\\s_" "\\)+" "\\)"

Thanks in advance,
Nordlöw

Re: Regexp for matching a symbol (identifier) in emacs-lisp

[Lennart Borgman (gmail)]

Nordlöw wrote:
> Does Emacs provide a shorter way of matching an emacs-lisp symbol
> (identifier) than the following:
>   "\\(" "\\(?:" "\\w\\|\\s_" "\\)+" "\\)"


You mean the concatenation of those strings? (BTW, if you want to make
it easier to read then rx is an alternative.)

You do not need two level of parenthesis. Use either the shy group or
the submatch group type parenthesis.

Re: Regexp for matching a symbol (identifier) in emacs-lisp

[Nikolaj Schumacher]

Nordlöw <per.nordlow@gmail.com> wrote:

> Does Emacs provide a shorter way of matching an emacs-lisp symbol
> (identifier) than the following:
>   "\\(" "\\(?:" "\\w\\|\\s_" "\\)+" "\\)"

I don't think so.  In fact, you should also add \\_< and \\_>, so it
doesn't match half symbols.

regards,
Nikolaj Schumacher

Re: Regexp for matching a symbol (identifier) in emacs-lisp

[Nikolaj Schumacher]

"Lennart Borgman (gmail)" <lennart.borgman@gmail.com> wrote:

> Nordlöw wrote:
>> Does Emacs provide a shorter way of matching an emacs-lisp symbol
>> (identifier) than the following:
>>   "\\(" "\\(?:" "\\w\\|\\s_" "\\)+" "\\)"
>
>
> You do not need two level of parenthesis. Use either the shy group or
> the submatch group type parenthesis.

He needs two if he wants to match the entire symbol in a matching group,
though.

regards,
Nikolaj Schumacher

Re: Regexp for matching a symbol (identifier) in emacs-lisp

[Lennart Borgman]

On Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 8:22 PM, Nikolaj Schumacher <me@nschum.de> wrote:
> "Lennart Borgman (gmail)" <lennart.borgman@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Nordlöw wrote:
>>> Does Emacs provide a shorter way of matching an emacs-lisp symbol
>>> (identifier) than the following:
>>>   "\\(" "\\(?:" "\\w\\|\\s_" "\\)+" "\\)"
>>
>>
>> You do not need two level of parenthesis. Use either the shy group or
>> the submatch group type parenthesis.
>
> He needs two if he wants to match the entire symbol in a matching group,
> though.

Yes, my bad.