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sqloracle-databaseregexp-like

Why doesn't this regexp_like does not get the results I want

I'm trying the following regexp_like for a bigger query, it does not work, what am i doing wrong? 

with xx as
  (select '333-22-234223' as a
   from dual)
select xx.a
from xx
where
  regexp_like(xx.a,'^[:digit:]{3}-[:digit:]{2}-[:digit:]{6}$');
Solution

  • You can use the following solution using [[:digit:]] (double [...]):

    WITH xx AS (
    SELECT '333-22-234223' AS a FROM dual
)
SELECT xx.a
FROM xx
WHERE REGEXP_LIKE(xx.a, '^[[:digit:]]{3}-[[:digit:]]{2}\-[[:digit:]]{6}$');

    ... or using [0-9] instead of [[:digit:]]:

    WITH xx AS (
    SELECT '333-22-234223' AS a FROM dual
)
SELECT xx.a
FROM xx
WHERE REGEXP_LIKE(xx.a, '^[0-9]{3}-[0-9]{2}\-[0-9]{6}$');

    demo: http://sqlfiddle.com/#!4/3149e4/120/1

    Why does it require double brackets?

    These character classes are valid only inside the bracketed expression.
    source: https://docs.oracle.com/cd/B12037_01/server.101/b10759/ap_posix001.htm