JavaScript String match()
Example
Search a string for "ain":
let str = "The rain in SPAIN stays mainly in the plain";
str.match(/ain/g) // Returns ain,ain,ain
Try it Yourself »
More "Try it Yourself" examples below.
Definition and Usage
The match() method searches a string for a match against a regular expression, and returns the matches, as an Array object.
Read more about regular expressions in our RegExp Tutorial and our RegExp Object Reference.
Note: If the regular expression does not include the g modifier (to perform a global search), the match() method will return only the first match in the string.
This method returns null if no match is found.
Browser Support
match() is fully supported in all browsers:
| Chrome | IE | Edge | Firefox | Safari | Opera |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Syntax
string.match(regexp)
Parameter Values
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| regexp | Required. The value to search for, as a regular expression. |
Technical Details
| Return Value: | An Array, containing the matches, one item for each match, or null if no match is found |
|---|---|
| JavaScript Version: | ECMAScript 1 |
More Examples
Example
Perform a global, case-insensitive search for "ain":
let str = "The rain in SPAIN stays mainly in the plain";
str.match(/ain/gi) // Returns ain,AIN,ain,ain
Try it Yourself »
