I'm working on a regex pattern to check if a line contains a float. I need it to account for digits both before and after the decimal point while ensuring that at least one digit is present. My current regex is: `^-?(d+.d*|d*.d+)$`. It works for examples like `-90.`, `.67`, and `42.6`, but it fails on inputs like `.` and `-.`. I'd love some suggestions on how to improve it!
2 Answers
Your regex isn't terrible! Just remember there are various ways to define a float with regex. It's all about finding what suits your needs.
One alternative approach is to just try converting the string to a float directly, if your programming language supports it. If it fails, you can catch the exception. Some languages offer a method like TryParse() which returns a boolean indicating success and the parsed float. It might be more efficient than regex if you're processing a lot of inputs.
I love that idea! It's always good to think outside the box.
Absolutely! If you're cleaning data for another system, it's best to tailor your regex to meet those specific requirements.