`alphanumericBoundary`

Pattern that matches the boundary between alphanumeric and other characters.

Category: Language Fundamentals > Data Types

Syntax

pat = alphanumericBoundary

Creates a zero-width pattern that matches where an alphanumeric character meets a non-alphanumeric one, or the start or end of the text.

Description

Like the regular expression \b, it marks where a word starts or ends without being part of the match. Placed on both sides of another pattern, it makes that pattern match only whole words. Combine patterns with +, as in alphanumericBoundary + "cat" + alphanumericBoundary.

Output arguments

pat: A pattern object that consumes no characters.

Example

Whole words only

str = "foo_bar baz";
extract(str, alphanumericBoundary + lettersPattern + alphanumericBoundary)

Output

ans = 3×1 string array

    "foo"
    "bar"
    "baz"

See also

alphanumericsPattern lettersPattern digitBoundary letterBoundary extract