Paste a regular expression and translate its anchors, groups, character classes, escapes, alternation, and quantifiers into a readable token-by-token explanation.
How to use the Regex Explainer
Enter the pattern without surrounding slash characters, then add any flags separately. Read the explanation from top to bottom and use the related Regex Tester when you need to verify actual matches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a regex explainer do?
It breaks a regular expression into meaningful tokens and describes what each token matches.
Is this the same as a regex tester?
No. A tester checks matches against sample text; an explainer helps you understand the pattern itself.
Which regex flavor is supported?
Validation follows the JavaScript regular-expression engine used by your browser.
Can it explain lookaheads and groups?
Yes. It identifies common capturing groups, noncapturing groups, lookaheads, and related syntax.
Does the regex leave my browser?
No. Validation and explanation are performed locally.