letterBoundary

Match boundary between letter characters and non-letter characters

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Syntax

pat = letterBoundary
pat = letterBoundary(type)

Description

pat = letterBoundary creates a pattern that matches the start or end of a run of letter characters. letterBoundary can be negated using the ~ operator. When negated, ~letterBoundary matches the boundary between any two characters except at the start or end of a run of letters.

example

pat = letterBoundary(type) specifies whether to match at the start or end of a run of letters and numbers. type can be 'start', 'end', or 'either' (default).

example

Examples

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Open Live Script

Use letterBoundary to divide a string along boundaries between letters and nonletter characters.

Create a pattern that matches any letter boundaries.

txt = "123 abc .?! def 456";
pat = letterBoundary;

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

replace(txt,pat,"|")
ans = 
"123 |abc| .?! |def| 456"
Open Live Script

Use the "start" and "end" options for letterBoundary to match the boundary between letters and nonletter characters.

Create a string that contains several different character types. Create a pattern that matches any characters between a "start" boundary for letters and an "end" boundary.

txt = "123 abc .?! def 456";
pat = letterBoundary("start") + wildcardPattern(1,inf) + letterBoundary("end");

Extract the pattern.

boundaries = extract(txt,pat)
boundaries = 2×1 string
    "abc"
    "def"
Open Live Script

Use the ~ operator to negate letterBoundary. This matches boundaries between two characters when both are letters or neither are letters.

Create a string that contains several different character types. Create a pattern that matches a negated letterBoundary.

txt = "123 abc .?!";
pat = ~letterBoundary;

Use replace to insert "|" characters to show where ~letterBoundary matches.

boundaries = replace(txt,pat,"|")
boundaries = 
"|1|2|3| a|b|c |.|?|!|"

Input Arguments

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Boundary type, specified as 'start', 'end', or 'either'.

Data Types: char | string

Output Arguments

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Pattern expression, returned as a pattern object.

Extended Capabilities

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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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