Python extract pattern matches

Question

Python 2.7.1 I am trying to use python regular expression to extract words inside of a pattern

I have some string that looks like this

someline abc
s         


        

Answer 1

Here's a way to do it without using groups (Python 3.6 or above):

>>> re.search('2\d\d\d[01]\d[0-3]\d', 'report_20191207.xml')[0]
'20191207'