Download Cheat sheet PDF 12 pages · syntax, editors, patterns, Unicode, performance, debugging
Pattern

Regex for Regex flag string

Flag characters used in JS regex literals.

The Regex flag string regex is ^[gimsuyd]*$ — copy it below, or open it in the explainer for a token-by-token breakdown.

The pattern

^[gimsuyd]*$
Try in explainer → Download cheat sheet ↓

What it matches

  • g
  • gi
  • gimsu
  • gimsuy

What it doesn't match

  • gA
  • g g
  • x

Notes & gotchas

JavaScript regex flags: g (global), i (case-insensitive), m (multiline), s (dotall), u (unicode), y (sticky), d (hasIndices). Each flag at most once.

Code in your language

Use the explainer's Code tab to generate ready-to-paste snippets in JavaScript, Python, Java, .NET, Go, Ruby, and PHP for this pattern.

Open in explainer →

Token-by-token breakdown

Every part of the pattern, left to right:

TokenMeaning
^start of string (or line in multiline mode)
[gimsuyd]*zero or more: any of: “g”, “i”, “m”, “s”, “u”, “y”, “d”
$end of string (or line in multiline mode)

About this pattern

Developer-oriented patterns help with code analysis, log parsing, and data transformation. Use these in build scripts, CI tools, IDE search-and-replace, and code review utilities.

Quick usage in different languages

This exact pattern — with the correct escaping and idioms for each language:

  • JavaScript: /^[gimsuyd]*$/.test(value)
  • Python: re.match(r"^[gimsuyd]*$", value)
  • Java: Pattern.compile("^[gimsuyd]*$").matcher(value).matches()
  • C# / .NET: Regex.IsMatch(value, @"^[gimsuyd]*$")
  • Go: regexp.MustCompile(`^[gimsuyd]*$`).MatchString(value)
  • Ruby: /^[gimsuyd]*$/.match?(value)
  • PHP: preg_match('~^[gimsuyd]*$~', $value)

The explainer’s Code tab regenerates these for any pattern you paste, and the downloadable cheat sheet bundles the breakdown, all seven snippets, and the pitfalls below onto one printable page.

Common pitfalls

  • Anchored to the whole string. This pattern uses ^ and $, so it requires the entire input to match. To find it inside a longer text, drop the anchors and use the global (g) flag.
  • Validate beyond format. Matching the format doesn't guarantee the value is real. Confirm the regex flag string against a source of truth (database, API, or checksum) where it matters.

Standards & sources

This pattern is based on the following authoritative specification(s) and issuing authorities. Formats can change — always confirm against the primary source.

Related patterns

More patterns in the Developer category:

See also

Browse all 300 patterns in the library, or open this regex in the interactive explainer to see a token-by-token breakdown, test against custom input, and generate code in seven languages.


← Back to all patterns