Regex * — Zero or More (Greedy)
* matches the preceding element zero or more times, greedily (as many as possible). For example a* matches "", "a", "aaa". Add ? for lazy matching (*?).
Open the interactive DevRef Hub tool →Key facts
| Token | * |
|---|---|
| Repetitions | 0 to ∞ |
| Mode | Greedy (max length) |
| Lazy form | *? |
Frequently asked questions
What does * mean in regex?
Zero or more repetitions of the preceding element, greedy by default.
* vs +?
* allows zero matches; + requires at least one.
Related pages
Regex * — Star Quantifier is part of DevRef Hub on GOAT Lab — a free reference you can use without signing up, and it works offline. Open the tool above for any custom value.
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