Word boundaries
A regex that match a word can also match it embedded within a larger word.
#!/bin/sh
: "Word boundaries, a common problem:
A regex that match a word can also match it embedded
Use \b and \b
Use \< and \>
"
A='gray grayscale'
B='cat category'
C='doggy dog'
echo $A | grep 'gray' -o | tee result.txt
echo $B | grep '\b(cat)\b' -E -o | tee result.txt -a
echo $C | grep '\<dog\>' -E -o | tee result.txt -a
gray
gray
cat
dog
Questions and answers
Match the word "cat" in "cat category" [b,2]
- a) cat
- b) \b(cat)\b
- c) \w(cat)\w
/cat/ matches "cat" in "cat category"
- a) twice
- b) once
