javascript regex of a javascript string

Question

I need to match a javascript string, with a regular expression, that is a string enclosed by single quote and can only contain a backslashed single quote.

The exampl

Answer 1

Try this one:

/'(?:[^'\\]|\\'|\\(?!'))*'/

Test it in your console:

/'(?:[^'\\]|\\'|\\(?!'))*'/.exec("'abc\\\'de\\\'fg'")

It'll match

• Any number of characters that are:
  • NOT ' or \ (except)
  • \' (or)
  • \ (not followed by ')

If you want it to match the entire string, use the ^ start-of-string and $ end-of-string markers:

/^'(?:[^'\\]|\\'|\\(?!'))*'$/

... which will match 'string', 'string\'s are awesome' but not 'string's are awesome' or 'string's