Regular expressions, or regex for short, are a powerful tool for searching and manipulating text. They can be especially useful when working with HTML, as they allow you to quickly find and modify specific tags or attributes within an HTML document.
One common use case for regex in HTML is detecting specific tags. For example, let’s say you want to find all the anchor tags within an HTML document. You could use the following regex:
This regex will search for the opening angle bracket followed by the letter “a”, then zero or more characters (the .*? part), ending with a closing angle bracket. It will match any anchor tag, regardless of its attributes or content.
You can also use regex to find specific attributes within an HTML tag. For example, you want to find all the tags with a “class” attribute. You could use the following regex:
This regex searches for the opening angle bracket followed by one or more word characters (the w+ part), followed by zero or more characters (the .? part), followed by the attribute “class” and its value in quotation marks (the .? part). It will match any tag with a “class” attribute, regardless of the value of that attribute.
Once you’ve found the tags or attributes you’re looking for, you can also use regex to modify them. For example, you want to add a “target” attribute to all the anchor tags in an HTML document. You could use the following regex:
This regex searches for the opening angle bracket followed by the letter “a“, followed by one or more characters in parentheses (the .*? part). It will capture any attributes that the anchor tag already has. You can then use the replace function to add the “target” attribute, like so:
It will add the “target” attribute to all the anchor tags in the HTML document while preserving any other attributes the tags may have had.
Overall, regex is a powerful tool for working with HTML tags and attributes. Whether searching for specific tags, modifying attributes, or both, regex can save you a lot of time and effort. Just be sure to test your regex thoroughly before applying it to your HTML, as a small mistake can have big consequences.
Up until working with Casey, we had only had poor to mediocre experiences outsourcing work to agencies. Casey & the team at CJ&CO are the exception to the rule.
Communication was beyond great, his understanding of our vision was phenomenal, and instead of needing babysitting like the other agencies we worked with, he was not only completely dependable but also gave us sound suggestions on how to get better results, at the risk of us not needing him for the initial job we requested (absolute gem).
This has truly been the first time we worked with someone outside of our business that quickly grasped our vision, and that I could completely forget about and would still deliver above expectations.
I honestly can't wait to work in many more projects together!
Disclaimer
*The information this blog provides is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. The information may not reflect current developments and may be changed or updated without notice. Any opinions expressed on this blog are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s employer or any other organization. You should not act or rely on any information contained in this blog without first seeking the advice of a professional. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this blog. The author and affiliated parties assume no liability for any errors or omissions.