Regex Explainer

Summary

Enter a regex pattern and instantly see every token explained in plain English, color-coded by type.

How it works

1. Type or paste a regex pattern in the Pattern field (no surrounding slashes needed).
2. Optionally select any flags — g, i, m, s, or u.
3. Click Explain (or select an example from the dropdown).
4. Read the summary sentence and the token-by-token table below it.
5. Each chip is color-coded by token type: anchor, literal, class, quantifier, group, lookaround, or escape.

Use cases

• Learning what an unfamiliar regex actually does.
• Documenting complex patterns for teammates.
• Debugging a regex by understanding each component.
• Teaching regular expressions step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions