Match pattern anywhere in string?

Question

I want to match the following pattern:

Exxxx49 (where x is a digit 0-9)

For example, E123449abcdefgh, abcdefE123449987654321 are both valid. I.e., I need to match the pattern anywhere in a string.

I am using:

^*E[0-9]{4}49*$

But it only matches E123449.

How can I allow any amount of characters in front or after the pattern?

Answer 1

Remove the ^ and $ to search anywhere in the string.

In your case the * are probably not what you intended; E[0-9]{4}49 should suffice. This will find an E, followed by four digits, followed by a 4 and a 9, anywhere in the string.

Answer 2

I would go for

^.*E[0-9]{4}49.*$

EDIT:

since it fullfills all requirements state by OP.

• "[match] Exxxx49 (where x is digit 0-9)"
• "allow for any amount of characters in front or after pattern"

It will match

• ^.* everything from, including the beginning of the line
• E[0-9]{4}49 the requested pattern
• .*$ everthing after the pattern, including the the end of the line