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re_comp(3) Library Functions Manual re_comp(3) NAME re_comp, re_exec - Handle regular expressions LIBRARY Standard C Library (libc.so, libc.a) SYNOPSIS #include <regex.h> char *re_comp( char *string); int re_exec( char *string); STANDARDS Interfaces documented on this reference page conform to industry stan- dards as follows: re_comp(), re_exec(): XPG4-UNIX Refer to the standards(5) reference page for more information about in- dustry standards and associated tags. PARAMETERS Points to the string that is to be matched or converted. DESCRIPTION The re_comp() function converts a string into an internal form suit- able for pattern matching. The re_exec() function compares the string pointed to by the string parameter with the last string passed to the re_comp() function. When the re_comp() function is passed a value of 0 (zero) or NULL, the regular expression currently being converted remains unchanged. Strings passed to both the re_comp() and re_exec() functions may have trailing or embedded newline characters; however, these strings are terminated by a zero byte. The re_comp() and re_exec() functions support simple regular expres- sions, which are defined in the grep(1) reference page. NOTES The re_comp() and re_exec() interfaces are scheduled to be withdrawn from a future version of the X/Open CAE Specification. These interfaces are obsolete; they are guaranteed to function properly only in the C/POSIX locale and should be avoided. Use the POSIX reg- comp() interface in place of re_comp() and re_exec(). RETURN VALUES The re_comp() function returns a value of 0 (zero) when the string pointed to by the string parameter is successfully converted; other- wise, an error message string is returned. Upon successful completion, the re_exec() function returns a value of 1 if string matches the last compiled regular expression. Otherwise, the re_exec() function returns a value of 0 (zero), if string fails to match the last compiled regular expression, and a value of -1, if the compiled regular expression is invalid (indicating an internal error). RELATED INFORMATION Functions: regcomp(3) Commands: grep(1) Standards: standards(5) delim off re_comp(3)