What are the differences between regex and string matching?

What are the differences between regex and string matching?

Regex (regular expressions) is a powerful tool for pattern matching in strings, allowing complex searches, while string matching is typically simpler and used for exact matches.

Can you give me an example of when to use regex?

Sure! Use regex when you need to validate formats, like checking if an email address is valid or extracting specific patterns from text.

Are there performance differences between the two?

Yes, regex can be slower due to its complexity, especially with large texts, while simple string matching is generally faster.

Which one is easier to learn?

String matching is usually easier to learn because it involves straightforward comparisons, while regex has a steeper learning curve due to its syntax.

What tools can I use for regex?

You can use tools like Regex101 for testing, or programming languages like Python, JavaScript, and Java that have built-in regex support.