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lookAheadBoundary

Match boundary before specified pattern

Since R2020b

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Syntax

newpat = lookAheadBoundary(pat)

Description

newpat = lookAheadBoundary(pat) creates a pattern that matches the start of pat. Text matched by pat is not included in the result. lookAheadBoundary can be negated using the ~ operator. When negated, ~lookAheadBoundary matches between any characters that are not at the start of pat.

example

Examples

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Open Live Script

Create a pattern that matches ahead of "b" or "2". 

txt = "abc 123";
pat = lookAheadBoundary("b"|"2");

Use replace to insert "|" characters at the matched boundaries.

replace(txt,pat,"|")
ans = 
"a|bc 1|23"
Open Live Script

Use the ~ operator to negate lookAheadBoundary.

Create a pattern that matches digits except for those directly precede "b" or "2". 

txt = "abc 123";
pat = ~lookAheadBoundary("b"|"2");

Use replace to insert "|" characters at the negated boundaries.

replace(txt,pat,"|")
ans = 
"|ab|c| |12|3|"

Input Arguments

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Input pattern, specified as a pattern, string array, character vector, or cell array of character vectors.

Data Types: char | string | pattern | cell

Output Arguments

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Output pattern, returned as a pattern or an array of pattern objects.

Extended Capabilities

Thread-Based Environment
Run code in the background using MATLAB® backgroundPool or accelerate code with Parallel Computing Toolbox™ ThreadPool.

Version History

Introduced in R2020b

See Also

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