BytePane

YAML Key-Value Regex Pattern

Matches simple YAML key-value pairs. Useful for quick parsing of configuration files.

{}
Data Formats
Beginner
Difficulty
Universal
Language
gm
Flags
// Regular Expression
/^([\w.-]+):\s+(.+)$/gm

Live Regex Tester

Pattern Breakdown

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

Code Examples

JavaScript

const regex = /^([\w.-]+):\s+(.+)$/gm;
const test = "name: John Doe";
console.log(regex.test(test)); // true

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

Python

import re

pattern = r'^([\w.-]+):\s+(.+)$'
test = "name: John Doe"
match = re.findall(pattern, test)
print(match)  # Found!

Go

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "regexp"
)

func main() {
    re := regexp.MustCompile(`^([\w.-]+):\s+(.+)$`)
    fmt.Println(re.MatchString("name: John Doe")) // true
}

Common Use Cases

Configuration parsingDocker ComposeKubernetes manifests

Match Examples

InputResult
name: John DoeMatch
- list itemNo Match

About the YAML Key-Value Regex

Matches simple YAML key-value pairs. Useful for quick parsing of configuration files.

Regular expressions (regex) are powerful pattern matching tools used across virtually all programming languages. The yaml key-value pattern is classified as beginner difficulty in the data formats 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 YAML Key-Value regex pattern?

Matches simple YAML key-value pairs. Useful for quick parsing of configuration files.

How do I use the YAML Key-Value regex?

Use the pattern /^([\w.-]+):\s+(.+)$/gm in your code. In JavaScript: new RegExp('^([\w.-]+):\s+(.+)$', 'gm'). Test it above with your own input.

What does this YAML Key-Value regex match?

This pattern matches: "name: John Doe". It does NOT match: "- list item". Configuration parsing, Docker Compose, Kubernetes manifests.

Is the YAML Key-Value regex beginner-friendly?

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

What languages support the YAML Key-Value 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 YAML Key-Value 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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