# Regexp problem - differences in Perl and Ruby **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [January 10, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/regexp-problem-differences-in-perl-and-ruby/52013 "2006-01-10T02:47:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![samckayak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/58f4c7/32.png) [@samckayak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/samckayak)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/regexp-problem-differences-in-perl-and-ruby/52013/1 "2006-01-10T02:47:53Z")
I got different results in Perl and Ruby of this regular expression. Can somebody maybe give me a “Ruby Way” solution of this? The output from Perl is what I want. But I’m currently programming this is Ruby. In Perl: #snippet start ========== sub transform\_data { my $data = shift; if ($data=~/^[\d.]+$/) #numbers { print “Got here!\n”; } else { print “’$data’”,"\n"; } } my $data = “patched 3 systems: 134.27.56.237 134.27.59.6 134.27.55.43”; transform\_data($data); #snippet end ========= Output is: ‘patched 3 systems: 134.27.56.237 134.27.59.6 134.27.55.43’ * * * In Ruby: #snippet start ============ def transform\_data(data) if (data=~/^[\d.]+$/) #numbers puts “Got here!” else puts("’" + data + “’”) end end data = “patched 3 systems: 134.27.56.237 134.27.59.6 134.27.55.43” transform\_data(data) #snippet end ============ Output is: Got here! Now why would it match in Ruby? Am I missing something here? Regards, Sam ---
**Author:** ![samckayak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/58f4c7/32.png) [@samckayak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/samckayak)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/regexp-problem-differences-in-perl-and-ruby/52013/2 "2006-01-10T02:56:56Z")
Hi – On Tue, 10 Jan 2006, Sam Dela C. wrote: > end > Got here! > > Now why would it match in Ruby? Am I missing something here? ^ and $ match start and end of line, not string. For start and end of string, you want \A and \z (or \Z to ignore final newline). David – David A. Black removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid “Ruby for Rails”, from Manning Publications, coming April 2006! > **[Ruby for Rails](https://www.manning.com/books/ruby-for-rails)** > > NEWER EDITION AVAILABLE > > The Well-Grounded Rubyist, Second Edition is now available. An eBook of the previous edition, The Well-Grounded Rubyist is included at no additional cost when you buy the revised edition! > > > Ruby for Rails helps Rails... ---
**Author:** ![samckayak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/58f4c7/32.png) [@samckayak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/samckayak)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:05am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/regexp-problem-differences-in-perl-and-ruby/52013/3 "2006-01-10T03:05:58Z")
Thanks David. Yes, after I replaced ^ with \A and $ with \a, it works now. Another difference learned. I’m discovering new stuffs in Ruby every day. Regards, Sam removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid 01/09/2006 05:54 PM Please respond to removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid To removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid (ruby-talk ML) cc Subject Re: regexp problem - differences in Perl and Ruby Classification Hi – On Tue, 10 Jan 2006, Sam Dela C. wrote: > end > Got here! > > Now why would it match in Ruby? Am I missing something here? ^ and $ match start and end of line, not string. For start and end of string, you want \A and \z (or \Z to ignore final newline). David – David A. Black removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid “Ruby for Rails”, from Manning Publications, coming April 2006! > **[Ruby for Rails](https://www.manning.com/books/ruby-for-rails)** > > NEWER EDITION AVAILABLE > > The Well-Grounded Rubyist, Second Edition is now available. An eBook of the previous edition, The Well-Grounded Rubyist is included at no additional cost when you buy the revised edition! > > > Ruby for Rails helps Rails... ---
**Author:** ![samckayak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/58f4c7/32.png) [@samckayak](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/samckayak)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/regexp-problem-differences-in-perl-and-ruby/52013/4 "2006-01-10T03:08:59Z")
Oops sorry, typo, I mean when I replaced ^ with \A and $ with \z Regards, Sam Sam Dela C. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) 01/09/2006 06:05 PM Please respond to removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid To removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid (ruby-talk ML) cc Subject Re: regexp problem - differences in Perl and Ruby Classification Thanks David. Yes, after I replaced ^ with \A and $ with \a, it works now. Another difference learned. I’m discovering new stuffs in Ruby every day. Regards, Sam removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid 01/09/2006 05:54 PM Please respond to removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid To removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid (ruby-talk ML) cc Subject Re: regexp problem - differences in Perl and Ruby Classification Hi – On Tue, 10 Jan 2006, Sam Dela C. wrote: > end > Got here! > > Now why would it match in Ruby? Am I missing something here? ^ and $ match start and end of line, not string. For start and end of string, you want \A and \z (or \Z to ignore final newline). David – David A. Black removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid “Ruby for Rails”, from Manning Publications, coming April 2006! > **[Ruby for Rails](https://www.manning.com/books/ruby-for-rails)** > > NEWER EDITION AVAILABLE > > The Well-Grounded Rubyist, Second Edition is now available. An eBook of the previous edition, The Well-Grounded Rubyist is included at no additional cost when you buy the revised edition! > > > Ruby for Rails helps Rails...