# One more regular expression, please **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [December 1, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/one-more-regular-expression-please/179640 "2009-12-01T03:07:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/one-more-regular-expression-please/179640/1 "2009-12-01T03:07:24Z")
Hi, I really can’t figure out how regular expressions work, and since I don’t use them frequently is easier to ask… I have the follwow string ++((100))++askjasdjksjdkasdkjk++((200))++skdjsjd I need a reg expression that extracts only the first number inside the first ++(( ))++ and ignore the rest…, in this case I need to return 100 thanks ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/one-more-regular-expression-please/179640/2 "2009-12-01T03:58:51Z")
On Monday 30 November 2009 08:07:26 pm J. mp wrote: > I have the follwow string > > ++((100))++askjasdjksjdkasdkjk++((200))++skdjsjd > > I need a reg expression that extracts only the first number inside the > first ++(( ))++ and ignore the rest…, in this case I need to return > 100 Since I can’t figure out why you’d ever want to do that in a real app, I have to ask: Is this a homework assignment? Well, I’d rather not assume, so I’ll give you a partial answer: Regular expressions don’t return things, they match things. You can’t write a regular expression (that I know of) which will match only what you’re asking for, unless you assume things about that specific string. Especially in homework, assuming things like that is a Bad Idea. There is a solution, and it includes regular expressions, but they are not the whole story. ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/one-more-regular-expression-please/179640/3 "2009-12-01T04:05:06Z")
J. mp wrote: > Hi, > > I really can’t figure out how regular expressions work, So you’re giving up and expecting us to do your work for you? Come on! You could at least try. > and since I > don’t use them frequently is easier to ask… Yes, ask. Ask irb. Ask [http://www.rubular.com](http://www.rubular.com) . But don’t you dare ask this list until you’ve made an attempt. Begging others to write code because you’re too lazy to try is not cool! > I have the follwow string > > ++((100))++askjasdjksjdkasdkjk++((200))++skdjsjd > > I need a reg expression that extracts only the first number inside the > first ++(( ))++ and ignore the rest…, in this case I need to return > 100 > > thanks Best, – Marnen Laibow-Koser [http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org) removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 6:40am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/one-more-regular-expression-please/179640/4 "2009-12-01T06:40:33Z")
J. mp wrote: > you’re both right. That was a dumb question. I will try to find it by > myself. Thank you. Good luck. If you get stuck, help is available. Regexes are lots of fun once you understand them! Best, – Marnen Laibow-Koser [http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org) removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 8:36am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/one-more-regular-expression-please/179640/5 "2009-12-01T08:36:51Z")
/[^+]_++((([0-9]+)))++._/ ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/one-more-regular-expression-please/179640/6 "2009-12-01T04:23:08Z")
you’re both right. That was a dumb question. I will try to find it by myself. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/one-more-regular-expression-please/179640/7 "2009-12-01T14:48:10Z")
Ruby Bucket wrote: > /[^+]_++((([0-9]+)))++._/ Not quite. Anyway, don’t spoon-feed the lazy. 🙂 Best, – Marnen Laibow-Koser [http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org) removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@j-merrill](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/j-merrill)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/one-more-regular-expression-please/179640/8 "2009-12-01T14:47:55Z")
extractor = Regexp.new(’++(((\d+)))++’) extractor.match will extract all the ++(123)++ like parts and extract all 123s into an array, if the string start with ++, try ^++(((\d+)))++