REGEX(3)                                                              REGEX(3)



NAME
       re_comp, re_exec - regular expression handler

SYNOPSIS
       char *re_comp(s)
       char *s;

       re_exec(s)
       char *s;

DESCRIPTION
       _R_e__c_o_m_p  compiles  a  string into an internal form suitable for pattern
       matching.  _R_e__e_x_e_c checks the argument string against the  last  string
       passed to _r_e__c_o_m_p_.

       _R_e__c_o_m_p  returns 0 if the string _s was compiled successfully; otherwise
       a string containing an error message is returned. If _r_e__c_o_m_p is  passed
       0  or a null string, it returns without changing the currently compiled
       regular expression.

       _R_e__e_x_e_c returns 1 if the string _s matches  the  last  compiled  regular
       expression, 0 if the string _s failed to match the last compiled regular
       expression, and -1 if  the  compiled  regular  expression  was  invalid
       (indicating an internal error).

       The  strings  passed  to  both _r_e__c_o_m_p and _r_e__e_x_e_c may have trailing or
       embedded newline characters; they are terminated by nulls.  The regular
       expressions  recognized  are  described  in the manual entry for _e_d(1),
       given the above difference.

SEE ALSO
       ed(1), ex(1), egrep(1), fgrep(1), grep(1)

DIAGNOSTICS
       _R_e__e_x_e_c returns -1 for an internal error.

       _R_e__c_o_m_p returns one of the following strings if an error occurs:

            _N_o _p_r_e_v_i_o_u_s _r_e_g_u_l_a_r _e_x_p_r_e_s_s_i_o_n_,
            _R_e_g_u_l_a_r _e_x_p_r_e_s_s_i_o_n _t_o_o _l_o_n_g_,
            _u_n_m_a_t_c_h_e_d _\_(_,
            _m_i_s_s_i_n_g _]_,
            _t_o_o _m_a_n_y _\_(_\_) _p_a_i_r_s_,
            _u_n_m_a_t_c_h_e_d _\_)_.



3rd Berkeley Distribution        May 15, 1985                         REGEX(3)