BytePane

Decimal Number Regex Pattern

Matches integers and decimal numbers with optional negative sign. Allows trailing decimals for flexible number parsing.

#
Numbers
Beginner
Difficulty
Universal
Language
none
Flags
// Regular Expression
/^-?\d+\.?\d*$/

Live Regex Tester

Pattern Breakdown

^-?\d+\.?\d*$
Character class [ ]
Group ( )
Quantifier { }
Anchor ^ $
Repetition * + ?
Escape \
Alternation |
Any char .

Code Examples

JavaScript

const regex = /^-?\d+\.?\d*$/;
const test = "3.14159";
console.log(regex.test(test)); // true

// Extract matches
const matches = test.match(regex);
console.log(matches);

Python

import re

pattern = r'^-?\d+\.?\d*$'
test = "3.14159"
match = re.search(pattern, test)
print(match)  # Found!

Go

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "regexp"
)

func main() {
    re := regexp.MustCompile(`^-?\d+\.?\d*$`)
    fmt.Println(re.MatchString("3.14159")) // true
}

Common Use Cases

Numeric input validationscientific datacalculations

Match Examples

InputResult
3.14159Match
3.14.15No Match

About the Decimal Number Regex

Matches integers and decimal numbers with optional negative sign. Allows trailing decimals for flexible number parsing.

Regular expressions (regex) are powerful pattern matching tools used across virtually all programming languages. The decimal number pattern is classified as beginner difficulty in the numbers category. It works in all major programming languages.

When using this regex, always consider edge cases and test thoroughly with real-world data. Use the interactive tester above to validate the pattern against your specific inputs before deploying to production.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Decimal Number regex pattern?

Matches integers and decimal numbers with optional negative sign. Allows trailing decimals for flexible number parsing.

How do I use the Decimal Number regex?

Use the pattern /^-?\d+\.?\d*$/ in your code. In JavaScript: new RegExp('^-?\d+\.?\d*$', ''). Test it above with your own input.

What does this Decimal Number regex match?

This pattern matches: "3.14159". It does NOT match: "3.14.15". Numeric input validation, scientific data, calculations.

Is the Decimal Number regex beginner-friendly?

This pattern is rated Beginner. It uses basic regex syntax and is easy to understand.

What languages support the Decimal Number regex?

This pattern works in all major programming languages including JavaScript, Python, Java, C#, Go, Ruby, PHP, and more. Syntax may vary slightly between regex engines.

Can I modify the Decimal Number regex for my use case?

Yes! Use the interactive tester above to modify the pattern and test with your own data. Common modifications include making it case-insensitive (add 'i' flag), matching globally (add 'g' flag), or adjusting character classes.

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