Locating Data via Pattern Matching

[Ida Achi]

With reference to K and B SCJP6 page 499. I would appreciate explanation why the answer is not

Pattern is \d\w
4 56
7 7ab

why was b ommited??

import java.util.regex.*;
class Regex {
public static void main(String [] args) {
Pattern p = Pattern.compile(args[0]);
Matcher m = p.matcher(args[1]);
System.out.println("Pattern is " + m.pattern());
while(m.find()) {
System.out.println(m.start() + " " + m.group());
}
}
}

% java Regex "\d\w" "ab4 56_7ab"

Produces the output

Pattern is \d\w
4 56
7 7a


Thanks

[Henry Wong]

The pattern is a digit character followed by a word charater -- aka. two characters. How can the match return three characters, when the pattern is only looking for two characters?

Henry

[Neha Daga]

look carefully there is no quantifier so it will just look for a digit followed by any character and wiil give you that pattern only but if there was a '+' quantifier for '/w' then it would have returned everything after that unless there is a space or string has ended.

[Ida Achi]

I have no idea why I had imagined seeing a quantifier. Thanks for pointing that out.