match() JavaScript String Method Explained

Whenever you use match() on a string, the method does the following:

1. It creates a new array.
2. It populates the newly created array with the patterns that match the method’s regular expression argument.

Note

match() is sometimes written as String.prototype.match() because it is a method of the String object’s prototype property.

Syntax of the match() Method

match() accepts a regular expression argument. Here is the syntax:

string.match(RegExp);

Note

• Suppose match()’s argument is a non-RegExp value—such as a string or a number. In that case, JavaScript will use the new RegExp(...) syntax to convert the argument to a regular expression.
• If you do not provide an argument, the computer will return an array containing an empty string: [""].
• null returns if the regular expression argument does not match any pattern.

Example 1: Match the First day Pattern

"SunDay, Tuesday, and Friday are good DAYS".match(/day/);

// The invocation above will return:
["day"];

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Example 2: Match the First Case-Insensitive day Pattern

"SunDay, Tuesday, and Friday are good DAYS".match(/day/i);

// The invocation above will return:
["Day"];

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Example 3: Do a Global Case-Insensitive Match of day

"SunDay, Tuesday, and Friday are good DAYS".match(/day/gi);

// The invocation above will return:
["Day", "day", "day", "DAY"];

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Important Stuff to Know about the match() Method

Whenever you use a global flag (g) with match()’s RegExp argument, the computer will ignore any capturing group in the regular expression.

For instance, the snippet below matched the first (\w+)d(a)y pattern while also returning the matched capture groups’ text: 'Tues' and 'a'.

"SunDay, Tuesday, and Friday are good DAYS".match(/(\w+)d(a)y/);

// The invocation above will return:
['Tuesday', 'Tues', 'a', index: 8, input: 'SunDay, Tuesday, and Friday are good DAYS', groups: undefined]

However, if you add a global flag to the regular expression, the computer will ignore the capture groups.

Here’s an example:

"SunDay, Tuesday, and Friday are good DAYS".match(/(\w+)d(a)y/g);

// The invocation above will return:
["Tuesday", "Friday"];

Tip

Use matchAll() to gain better access to capturing groups.