AS3 : RegExp exec method in loop problem
actionscript-3, loops, regex
Solution
That's what `g`lobal RegExps do in JavaScript/ActionScript. You `exec` them once, you get the first match, `exec` them again and get the second match. With a `g` RegExp you have to keep calling it again until you've got through all the matches. Then you'll get `null` and the search will reset to the start of the string.
It's a weird interface, but that's what we're stuck with. If you don't want this behaviour, omit the `'g'` flag from the `new RegExp` constructor. Then you'll get only the first match, every time.
Problem
I need some help about RegExp in AS3. I have a simple pattern : ``` patternYouTube = new RegExp ( "v(?:\/|=)([A-Z0-9_-]+)", "gi" ); ``` This pattern is looking for the youTube id video. For example : ``` var tmpUrl : String; var result : Object; var toto : Array = new Array(); toto = ["http://www.youtube.com/v/J-vCxmjCm-8&autoplay=1", "http://www.youtube.com/v/xFTRnE1WBmU&autoplay=1"]; var i : uint; for ( i = 0 ; i < toto.length ; i++) { tmpUrl = toto[i]; result = patternYouTube.exec ( tmpUrl ); if ( result.length != 0 && result != null ) { trace(result); } } ``` When i == 0, it works perfectly. Flash returns me : `v/J-vCxmjCm-8,J-vCxmjCm-8` When i == 1, it fails. Flash returns me : `null` When I revert the two strings in my array such as : ``` toto = [ http://www.youtube.com/v/xFTRnE1WBmU&autoplay=1, http://www.youtube.com/v/J-vCxmjCm-8&autoplay=1 ]; ``` When i == 0, it works perfectly : Flash returns me : `xFTRnE1WBmU` When i == 1, it fails : Flash returns me : `null` Do you have any idea about the problem in the loop ?