How can I count dot in the string? [duplicate]

Question

I am trying to count number of dot . in the string. I am trying with match() function for counting the dot, but it does not working.

I tried same script to count other string, letter and - which is properly working. I have following string

var string = "How are you doing . - today? You . - are such a nice person!";

I tried following script

var num = string.match(/-/g).length; // output 2 var num = string.match(/are/g).length; // output 2 var num = string.match(/a/g).length; // output 4 var num = string.match(/./g).length; // output 60

Can someone guide me why it match function does not support . and how can i count it. I would like to appreciate.

Dot has a special meaning in regex, it matches with any character. Escape the dot ... string.match(/\./g).length — gurvinder372
– gurvinder372, Commented Jan 8, 2018 at 7:02
You can use this trick string = "How are you doing . - today? You . - are such a nice person!.";console.log(string.split('.').length); — RICKY KUMAR
– RICKY KUMAR, Commented Jan 8, 2018 at 7:08

Matt Goodrich · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-08 07:03:21Z

16

The dot . is used in regex and matches a single character, without caring which character. You need to escape the dot, like string.match(/\./g).length. The \ is the escape, and says to treat the dot as a true ., instead of the special regex meaning.

answered Jan 8, 2018 at 7:03

Matt Goodrich

5,1155 gold badges27 silver badges39 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

BGS Over a year ago

is it empty string safe?

Matt Goodrich Over a year ago

Empty string, yes. If the string is null, then you'll want to check string != null first to avoid an NPE.

Emre Kabaoglu · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-08 07:03:51Z

Escape the .

var string = "How are you doing . - today? You . - are such a nice person!"; var num = string.match(/\./g).length; console.log(num);

Mihai Alexandru-Ionut · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-08 07:03:15Z

Dot is a special character in regex and it matches with any char.

You have to use escape the dot.

var string = "How are you doing . - today? You . - are such a nice person!"; var num = string.match(/\./g).length; // output 60 console.log(num);

Another approach is to use brackets.

var num = string.match(/[.]/g).length;

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How can I count dot in the string? [duplicate]

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

Comments

Comments

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

Comments

Comments

Linked

Related