python re.compile match dosn't match backward slash in full path in windows

Question

I have a windows full path which I try to validate using regex. According to this I have to add "\\\\\\\\" but this is not working.
What am I doing wrong?

import re

regex1 = re.compile('downloads\\\\test_dir\\\\sql\\\\my-ee.sql')  
s = "C:\x\xxx\temp\downloads\test_dir\sql\my-ee.sql"  
gg = regex1.match(s)

gg is None.

Answer 1

So there are two things:

1. The assignment of s should be either with escaped back-slashes or as a raw string. I prefer the latter:

s = r"C:\x\xxx\temp\downloads\test_dir\sql\my-ee.sql" 

2. you should use the search method instead of match to be content with a partial match.

Then, you can use \\\\ in the regular expression, or - as I prefer - a raw string again:

import re

regex1 = re.compile(r'downloads\\test_dir\\sql\\my-ee.sql')  
s = r"C:\x\xxx\temp\downloads\test_dir\sql\my-ee.sql"  
gg = regex1.search(s)
print(gg)