Re: BUG #3645: regular expression back references seem broken

Added to TODO:

* Fix regular expression bug when using complex back-references

  http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-bugs/2007-10/msg00000.php


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eric Haszlakiewicz wrote:
>
> The following bug has been logged online:
>
> Bug reference:      3645
> Logged by:          Eric Haszlakiewicz
> Email address:      erh+pgsql@swapsimple.com
> PostgreSQL version: 8.2.5
> Operating system:   NetBSD
> Description:        regular expression back references seem broken
> Details:
>
> I was attempting to create a simple regular expression that uses back
> references and I noticed some very odd behaviour.  This regexp is supposed
> to match a string where all the characters are the same:
>
> ^(.)\1*$
>
> If I try it, it doesn't work.  I would expect this to return false:
>
> template1=# select 'xyz' ~ E'^(.)\\1*$';
>  ?column?
> ----------
>  t
> (1 row)
>
> But adding some extra parens does:
> template1=# select 'xyz' ~ E'^(.)(\\1)*$';
>  ?column?
> ----------
>  f
> (1 row)
>
> As does changing the "." to an "x":
>
> template1=# select 'xyz' ~ E'^(x)\\1*$';
>  ?column?
> ----------
>  f
> (1 row)
>
> As does forcing it to be a extended regular expression:
>
>
> template1=# select 'xyz' ~ E'(?e)^(.)\\1*$';
>  ?column?
> ----------
>  f
> (1 row)
>
> The docs claim: "A single non-zero digit, not followed by another digit, is
> always taken as a back reference."  (The note at the end of 9.7.3.3)
>
> It's relatively easy to work around the problem, but it certainly led to a
> fair bit of head scratching while trying to debug some code. :)
>
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> TIP 6: explain analyze is your friend

--
  Bruce Momjian  <bruce@momjian.us>        http://momjian.us
  EnterpriseDB                             http://postgres.enterprisedb.com

  + If your life is a hard drive, Christ can be your backup. +