regexp-tree

regexp-tree

Regular expressions processor in JavaScript

TL;DR: RegExp Tree is a regular expressions processor, which includes parser, traversal, transformer, and optimizer APIs.

You can get an overview of the tool in this article.

Table of Contents

• Installation
• Development
• Usage as a CLI
• Usage from Node
• Capturing locations
• Using traversal API
• Using transform API
• Using generator API
• Using optimizer API
• Creating RegExp objects
• AST nodes specification

Installation

The parser can be installed as an npm module:

npm install -g regexp-tree

regexp-tree --help

You can also try it online using AST Explorer.

Development

• Fork https://github.com/DmitrySoshnikov/regexp-tree repo
• If there is an actual issue from the issues list you'd like to work on, feel free to assing it yourself, or comment on it to avoid collisions (open a new issue if needed)
• Make your changes
• Make sure npm test still passes (add new tests if needed)
• Submit a PR

The regexp-tree parser is implemented as an automatic LR parser using Syntax tool. The parser module is generated from the regexp grammar, which is based on the regular expressions grammar used in ECMAScript.

For development from the github repository, run build command to generate the parser module:

git clone https://github.com/<your-github-account>/regexp-tree.git
cd regexp-tree
npm install
npm run build

./bin/regexp-tree --help

NOTE: You need to run build command every time you change the grammar file.

Usage as a CLI

Check the options available from CLI:

regexp-tree --help

Usage: regexp-tree [options]

Options:
   -e, --expression   A regular expression to be parsed
   -l, --loc          Whether to capture AST node locations

To parse a regular expression, pass -e option:

regexp-tree -e '/a|b/i'

Which produces an AST node corresponding to this regular expression:

{
  type: 'RegExp',
  body: {
    type: 'Disjunction',
    left: {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'a',
      kind: 'simple'
    },
    right: {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'b',
      kind: 'simple'
    }
  },
  flags: 'i',
}

NOTE: the format of a regexp is / Body / OptionalFlags.

Usage from Node

The parser can also be used as a Node module:

const regexpTree = require('regexp-tree');

console.log(regexpTree.parse(/a|b/i)); // RegExp AST

Note, regexp-tree supports parsing regexes from strings, and also from actual RegExp objects (in general -- from any object which can be coerced to a string). If some feature is not implemented yet in an actual JavaScript RegExp, it should be passed as a string:

// Pass an actual JS RegExp object.
regexpTree.parse(/a|b/i);

// Pass a string, since `s` flag may not be supported in older versions.
regexpTree.parse('/./s');

Also note, that in string-mode, escaping is done using two slashes \\ per JavaScript:

// As an actual regexp.
regexpTree.parse(/\n/);

// As a string.
regexpTree.parse('/\\n/');

Capturing locations

For source code transformation tools it might be useful also to capture locations of the AST nodes. From the command line it's controlled via the -l option:

regexp-tree -e '/ab/' -l

This attaches loc object to each AST node:

{
  type: 'RegExp',
  body: {
    type: 'Alternative',
    expressions: [
      {
        type: 'Char',
        value: 'a',
        kind: 'simple',
        loc: {
          start: 1,
          end: 2
        }
      },
      {
        type: 'Char',
        value: 'b',
        kind: 'simple',
        loc: {
          start: 2,
          end: 3
        }
      }
    ],
    loc: {
      start: 1,
      end: 3
    }
  },
  flags: '',
  loc: {
    start: 0,
    end: 4
  }
}

From Node it's controlled via setOptions method exposed on the parser:

const regexpTree = require('regexp-tree');

const parsed = regexpTree
  .parser
  .setOptions({captureLocations: true})
  .parse(/a|b/);

The setOptions method sets global options, which are preserved between calls. It is also possible to provide options per a single parse call, which might be more preferred:

const regexpTree = require('regexp-tree');

const parsed = regexpTree.parse(/a|b/, {
  captureLocations: true,
});

Using traversal API

The traverse module allows handling needed AST nodes using visitor pattern. In Node the module is exposed as regexpTree.traverse method. Handlers receive an instance of NodePath class, which encapsulates node itself, its parent node, property, and index (in case if a node is a part of a collection).

Example:

const regexpTree = require('regexp-tree');

// Get AST.
const ast = regexpTree.parse('/[a-z]{1,}/');

// Handle nodes.
regexpTree.traverse(ast, {

  // Handle "Quantifier" node type.
  Quantifier({node}) {
    ...
  },
});

// Generate the regexp.
const re = regexpTree.generate(ast);

console.log(re); // '/[a-z]+/'

Using transform API

While traverse module provides basic traversal API, which can be used for any purposes of AST handling, transform module focuses mainly on transformation of regular expressions.

It accepts a regular expressions in different formats (string, an actual RegExp object, or an AST), applies a set of transformations, and retuns an instance of TransformResult. Handles receive as a parameter the same NodePath object used in traverse.

Example:

const regexpTree = require('regexp-tree');

// Handle nodes.
const re = regexpTree.transform('/[a-z]{1,}/i', {

  /**
   * Handle "Quantifier" node type,
   * transforming `{1,}` quantifier to `+`.
   */
  Quantifier(path) {
    const {node} = path;

    // {1,} -> +
    if (
      node.type === 'Range' &&
      node.from === 1 &&
      !node.to
    ) {
      path.replace({
        type: 'Quantifier',
        kind: '+',
        greedy: node.greedy,
      });
    }
  },
});

console.log(re.toString()); // '/[a-z]+/i'
console.log(re.toRegExp()); // /[a-z]+/i
console.log(re.getAST()); // AST for /[a-z]+/i

Using generator API

The generator module generates regular expressions from corresponding AST nodes. In Node the module is exposed as regexpTree.generate method.

Example:

const regexpTree = require('regexp-tree');

const re = regexpTree.generate({
  type: 'RegExp',
  body: {
    type: 'Char',
    value: 'a',
    kind: 'simple',
  },
  flags: 'i',
});

console.log(re); // '/a/i'

Using optimizer API

Optimizer transforms your regexp into an optimized version, replacing some sub-expressions with their idiomatic patterns. This might be good for different kinds of minifiers, as well as for regexp machines.

Example:

const regexpTree = require('regexp-tree');

const originalRe = /[a-zA-Z_0-9][A-Z_\da-z]*\e{1,}/;

const optimizedRe = regexpTree
  .optimize(originalRe)
  .toRegExp();

console.log(optimizedRe); // /\w+e+/

Creating RegExp objects

To create an actual RegExp JavaScript object, we can use regexpTree.toRegExp method:

const regexpTree = require('regexp-tree');

const re = regexpTree.toRegExp('/[a-z]/i');

console.log(
  re.test('a'), // true
  re.test('Z'), // true
);

AST nodes specification

Below are the AST node types for different regular expressions patterns:

• Char
  • Simple char
  • Escaped char
  • Meta char
  • Control char
  • Hex char-code
  • Decimal char-code
  • Octal char-code
  • Unicode
• Character class
  • Positive character class
  • Negative character class
  • Character class ranges
• Alternative
• Disjunction
• Groups
  • Capturing group
  • Named capturing group
  • Non-capturing group
  • Backreferences
• Quantifiers
  • ? zero-or-one
  • * zero-or-more
  • + one-or-more
  • Range-based quantifiers
    • Exact number of matches
    • Open range
    • Closed range
  • Non-greedy
• Assertions
  • ^ begin marker
  • $ end marker
  • Boundary assertions
  • Lookahead assertions
    • Positive lookahead assertions
    • Negative lookahead assertions
  • Lookbehind assertions
    • Positive lookbehind assertions
    • Negative lookbehind assertions

Char

A basic building block, single character. Can be escaped, and be of different kinds.

Simple char

Basic non-escaped char in a regexp:

z

Node:

{
  type: 'Char',
  value: 'z',
  kind: 'simple'
}

NOTE: to test this from CLI, the char should be in an actual regexp -- /z/.

Escaped char

\z

The same value, escaped flag is added:

{
  type: 'Char',
  value: 'z',
  kind: 'simple',
  escaped: true
}

Escaping is mostly used with meta symbols:

// Syntax error
*

\*

OK, node:

{
  type: 'Char',
  value: '*',
  kind: 'simple',
  escaped: true
}

Meta char

A meta character should not be confused with an escaped char.

Example:

\n

Node:

{
  type: 'Char',
  value: '\\n',
  kind: 'meta',
}

Among other meta character are: \f, \r, \n, \t, \v, \0, [\b] (backspace char), \s, \S, \w, \W, \d, \D.

NOTE: \b and \B are parsed as Assertion node type, not Char.

Control char

A char preceded with \c, e.g. \cx, which stands for CTRL+x:

\cx

Node:

{
  type: 'Char',
  value: '\\cx',
  kind: 'control',
}

HEX char-code

A char preceded with \x, followed by a HEX-code, e.g. \x3B (symbol ;):

\x3B

Node:

{
  type: 'Char',
  value: '\\x3B',
  kind: 'hex',
}

Decimal char-code

Char-code:

\42

Node:

{
  type: 'Char',
  value: '\\42',
  kind: 'decimal',
}

Octal char-code

Char-code started with \0, followed by an octal number:

\073

Node:

{
  type: 'Char',
  value: '\\073',
  kind: 'oct',
}

Unicode

Unicode char started with \u, followed by a hex number:

\u003B
\u{003B}

Node:

{
  type: 'Char',
  value: '\\u003B',
  kind: 'unicode',
}

Character class

Character classes define a set of characters. A set may include as simple characters, as well as character ranges. A class can be positive (any from the characters in the class match), or negative (any but the characters from the class match).

Positive character class

A positive character class is defined between [ and ] brackets:

[a*]

A node:

{
  type: 'CharacterClass',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'a',
      kind: 'simple'
    },
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: '*',
      kind: 'simple'
    }
  ]
}

NOTE: some meta symbols are treated as normal characters in a character class. E.g. * is not a repetition quantifier, but a simple char.

Negative character class

A negative character class is defined between [^ and ] brackets:

[^ab]

An AST node is the same, just negative property is added:

{
  type: 'CharacterClass',
  negative: true,
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'a',
      kind: 'simple'
    },
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'b',
      kind: 'simple'
    }
  ]
}

Character class ranges

As mentioned, a character class may also contain ranges of symbols:

[a-z]

A node:

{
  type: 'CharacterClass',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'ClassRange',
      from: {
        type: 'Char',
        value: 'a',
        kind: 'simple'
      },
      to: {
        type: 'Char',
        value: 'z',
        kind: 'simple'
      }
    }
  ]
}

NOTE: it is a syntax error if to value is less than from value: /[z-a]/.

The range value can be the same for from and to, and the special range - character is treated as a simple character when it stands in a char position:

// from: 'a', to: 'a'
[a-a]

// from: '-', to: '-'
[---]

// simple '-' char:
[-]

// 3 ranges:
[a-zA-Z0-9]+

Alternative

An alternative (or concatenation) defines a chain of patterns followed one after another:

abc

A node:

{
  type: 'Alternative',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'a',
      kind: 'simple'
    },
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'b',
      kind: 'simple'
    },
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'c',
      kind: 'simple'
    }
  ]
}

Another examples:

// 'a' with a quantifier, followed by 'b'
a?b

// A group followed by a class:
(ab)[a-z]

Disjunction

The disjunction defines "OR" operation for regexp patterns. It's a binary operation, having left, and right nodes.

Matches a or b:

a|b

A node:

{
  type: 'Disjunction',
  left: {
    type: 'Char',
    value: 'a',
    kind: 'simple'
  },
  right: {
    type: 'Char',
    value: 'b',
    kind: 'simple'
  }
}

Groups

The groups play two roles: they define grouping precedence, and allow to capture needed sub-expressions in case of a capturing group.

Capturing group

"Capturing" means the matched string can be referred later by a user, including in the pattern itself -- by using backreferences.

Char a, and b are grouped, followed by the c char:

(ab)c

A node:

{
  type: 'Alternative',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Group',
      capturing: true,
      expression: {
        type: 'Alternative',
        expressions: [
          {
            type: 'Char',
            value: 'a',
            kind: 'simple'
          },
          {
            type: 'Char',
            value: 'b',
            kind: 'simple'
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'c',
      kind: 'simple'
    }
  ]
}

Another example:

// A grouped disjunction of a symbol, and a character class:
(5|[a-z])

Named capturing group

NOTE: Named capturing groups are not yet supported by JavaScript RegExp. It is an ECMAScript proposal which is at stage 3 at the moment.

A capturing group can be given a name using the (?<name>...) syntax, for any identifier name.

For example, a regular expressions for a date:

/(?<year>\d{4})-(?<month>\d{2})-(?<day>\d{2})/u

For the group:

(?<foo>x)

We have the following node (the name property with value foo is added):

{
  type: 'Group',
  capturing: true,
  name: 'foo',
  expression: {
    type: 'Char',
    value: 'x',
    kind: 'simple'
  }
}

Non-capturing group

Sometimes we don't need to actually capture the matched string from a group. In this case we can use a non-capturing group:

Char a, and b are grouped, but not captured, followed by the c char:

(?:ab)c

The same node, the capturing flag is false:

{
  type: 'Alternative',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Group',
      capturing: false,
      expression: {
        type: 'Alternative',
        expressions: [
          {
            type: 'Char',
            value: 'a',
            kind: 'simple'
          },
          {
            type: 'Char',
            value: 'b',
            kind: 'simple'
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'c',
      kind: 'simple'
    }
  ]
}

Backreferences

A capturing group can be referenced in the pattern using notation of an escaped group number.

Matches abab string:

(ab)\1

A node:

{
  type: 'Alternative',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Group',
      capturing: true,
      expression: {
        type: 'Alternative',
        expressions: [
          {
            type: 'Char',
            value: 'a',
            kind: 'simple'
          },
          {
            type: 'Char',
            value: 'b',
            kind: 'simple'
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      type: 'Backreference',
      kind: 'number',
      number: 1,
      reference: 1,
    }
  ]
}

A named capturing group can be accessed using \k<name> pattern, and also using a numbered reference.

Matches www:

(?<foo>w)\k<foo>\1

A node:

{
  type: 'Alternative',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Group',
      capturing: true,
      name: 'foo',
      expression: {
        type: 'Char',
        value: 'w',
        kind: 'simple'
      }
    },
    {
      type: 'Backreference',
      kind: 'name',
      number: 1,
      reference: 'foo'
    },
    {
      type: 'Backreference',
      kind: 'number',
      number: 1,
      reference: 1
    }
  ]
}

Quantifiers

Quantifiers specify repetition of a regular expression (or of its part). Below are the quantifiers which wrap a parsed expression into a Repetition node. The quantifier itself can be of different kinds, and has Quantifier node type.

? zero-or-one

The ? quantifier is short for {0,1}.

a?

Node:

{
  type: 'Repetition',
  expression: {
    type: 'Char',
    value: 'a',
    kind: 'simple'
  },
  quantifier: {
    type: 'Quantifier',
    kind: '?',
    greedy: true
  }
}

* zero-or-more

The * quantifier is short for {0,}.

a*

Node:

{
  type: 'Repetition',
  expression: {
    type: 'Char',
    value: 'a',
    kind: 'simple'
  },
  quantifier: {
    type: 'Quantifier',
    kind: '*',
    greedy: true
  }
}

+ one-or-more

The + quantifier is short for {1,}.

// Same as `aa*`, or `a{1,}`
a+

Node:

{
  type: 'Repetition',
  expression: {
    type: 'Char',
    value: 'a',
    kind: 'simple'
  },
  quantifier: {
    type: 'Quantifier',
    kind: '+',
    greedy: true
  }
}

Range-based quantifiers

Explicit range-based quantifiers are parsed as follows:

Exact number of matches

a{3}

The type of the quantifier is Range, and from, and to properties have the same value:

{
  type: 'Repetition',
  expression: {
    type: 'Char',
    value: 'a',
    kind: 'simple'
  },
  quantifier: {
    type: 'Quantifier',
    kind: 'Range',
    from: 3,
    to: 3,
    greedy: true
  }
}

Open range

An open range doesn't have max value (assuming semantic "more", or Infinity value):

a{3,}

An AST node for such range doesn't contain to property:

{
  type: 'Repetition',
  expression: {
    type: 'Char',
    value: 'a',
    kind: 'simple'
  },
  quantifier: {
    type: 'Quantifier',
    kind: 'Range',
    from: 3,
    greedy: true
  }
}

Closed range

A closed range has explicit max value: (which syntactically can be the same as min value):

a{3,5}

// Same as a{3}
a{3,3}

An AST node for a closed range:

{
  type: 'Repetition',
  expression: {
    type: 'Char',
    value: 'a',
    kind: 'simple'
  },
  quantifier: {
    type: 'Quantifier',
    kind: 'Range',
    from: 3,
    to: 5,
    greedy: true
  }
}

NOTE: it is a syntax error if the max value is less than min value: /a{3,2}/

Non-greedy

If any quantifier is followed by the ?, the quantifier becomes non-greedy.

Example:

a+?

Node:

{
  type: 'Repetition',
  expression: {
    type: 'Char',
    value: 'a',
    kind: 'simple'
  },
  quantifier: {
    type: 'Quantifier',
    kind: '+',
    greedy: false
  }
}

Other examples:

a??
a*?
a{1}?
a{1,}?
a{1,3}?

Assertions

Assertions appear as separate AST nodes, however instread of manipulating on the characters themselves, they assert certain conditions of a matching string. Examples: ^ -- beginning of a string (or a line in multiline mode), $ -- end of a string, etc.

^ begin marker

The ^ assertion checks whether a scanner is at the beginning of a string (or a line in multiline mode).

In the example below ^ is not a property of the a symbol, but a separate AST node for the assertion. The parsed node is actually an Alternative with two nodes:

^a

The node:

{
  type: 'Alternative',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Assertion',
      kind: '^'
    },
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'a',
      kind: 'simple'
    }
  ]
}

Since assertion is a separate node, it may appear anywhere in the matching string. The following regexp is completely valid, and asserts beginning of the string; it'll match an empty string:

^^^^^

$ end marker

The $ assertion is similar to ^, but asserts the end of a string (or a line in a multiline mode):

a$

A node:

{
  type: 'Alternative',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'a',
      kind: 'simple'
    },
    {
      type: 'Assertion',
      kind: '$'
    }
  ]
}

And again, this is a completely valid regexp, and matches an empty string:

^^^^$$$$$

// valid too:
$^

Boundary assertions

The \b assertion check for word boundary, i.e. the position between a word and a space.

Matches x in x y, but not in xy:

x\b

A node:

{
  type: 'Alternative',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'x',
      kind: 'simple'
    },
    {
      type: 'Assertion',
      kind: '\\b'
    }
  ]
}

The \B is vice-versa checks for non-word boundary. The following example matches x in xy, but not in x y:

x\B

A node is the same:

{
  type: 'Alternative',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'x',
      kind: 'simple'
    },
    {
      type: 'Assertion',
      kind: '\\B'
    }
  ]
}

Lookahead assertions

These assertions check whether a pattern is followed (or not followed for the negative assertion) by another pattern.

Positive lookahead assertion

Matches a only if it's followed by b:

a(?=b)

A node:

{
  type: 'Alternative',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'a',
      kind: 'simple'
    },
    {
      type: 'Assertion',
      kind: 'Lookahead',
      assertion: {
        type: 'Char',
        value: 'b',
        kind: 'simple'
      }
    }
  ]
}

Negative lookahead assertion

Matches a only if it's not followed by b:

a(?!b)

A node is similar, just negative flag is added:

{
  type: 'Alternative',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'a',
      kind: 'simple'
    },
    {
      type: 'Assertion',
      kind: 'Lookahead',
      negative: true,
      assertion: {
        type: 'Char',
        value: 'b',
        kind: 'simple'
      }
    }
  ]
}

Lookbehind assertions

NOTE: Lookbehind assertions are not yet supported by JavaScript RegExp. It is an ECMAScript proposal which is at stage 3 at the moment.

These assertions check whether a pattern is preceded (or not preceded for the negative assertion) by another pattern.

Positive lookbehind assertion

Matches b only if it's preceded by a:

(?<=a)b

A node:

{
  type: 'Alternative',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Assertion',
      kind: 'Lookbehind',
      assertion: {
        type: 'Char',
        value: 'a',
        kind: 'simple'
      }
    },
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'b',
      kind: 'simple'
    },
  ]
}

Negative lookbehind assertion

Matches b only if it's not preceded by a:

(?<!a)b

A node:

{
  type: 'Alternative',
  expressions: [
    {
      type: 'Assertion',
      kind: 'Lookbehind',
      negative: true,
      assertion: {
        type: 'Char',
        value: 'a',
        kind: 'simple'
      }
    },
    {
      type: 'Char',
      value: 'b',
      kind: 'simple'
    },
  ]
}

Similar packages

Other packages similar to regexp-tree

regexpp

regexpp is a regular expression parser for ECMAScript. It provides functionalities to parse regular expressions into an AST, similar to regexp-tree. However, it does not offer transformation or optimization features.

regexp-parser

regexp-parser is another package for parsing regular expressions into an AST. It is simpler and more lightweight compared to regexp-tree, but it lacks the transformation and optimization capabilities.

regexgen

regexgen generates regular expressions from a set of strings. While it does not parse or transform existing regex patterns, it focuses on creating new regex patterns that match a given set of strings, which is a different use case compared to regexp-tree.