Matcher start(int) method in Java with Examples

Last Updated : 26 Nov, 2018
The start(int group) method of Matcher Class is used to get the start index of the match result already done, from the specified group. Syntax:
public int start(int group)
Parameters: This method takes a parameter group which is the group from which the start index of the matched pattern is required. Return Value: This method returns the index of the first character matched from the specified group. Exception: This method throws:
  • IllegalStateException if no match has yet been attempted, or if the previous match operation failed.
  • IndexOutOfBoundsException if there is no capturing group in the pattern with the given index.
Below examples illustrate the Matcher.start() method: Example 1: Java
// Java code to illustrate start() method

import java.util.regex.*;

public class GFG {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {

        // Get the regex to be checked
        String regex = "(G*s)";

        // Create a pattern from regex
        Pattern pattern
            = Pattern.compile(regex);

        // Get the String to be matched
        String stringToBeMatched
            = "GeeksForGeeks";

        // Create a matcher for the input String
        Matcher matcher
            = pattern
                  .matcher(stringToBeMatched);

        // Get the current matcher state
        MatchResult result
            = matcher.toMatchResult();
        System.out.println("Current Matcher: "
                           + result);

        while (matcher.find()) {
            // Get the first index of match result
            System.out.println(matcher.start(1));
        }
    }
}
Output:
Current Matcher: java.util.regex.Matcher[pattern=(G*s) region=0,13 lastmatch=] 4 12
Example 2: Java
// Java code to illustrate start() method

import java.util.regex.*;

public class GFG {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {

        // Get the regex to be checked
        String regex = "(G*G)";

        // Create a pattern from regex
        Pattern pattern
            = Pattern.compile(regex);

        // Get the String to be matched
        String stringToBeMatched
            = "GFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFG";

        // Create a matcher for the input String
        Matcher matcher
            = pattern
                  .matcher(stringToBeMatched);

        // Get the current matcher state
        MatchResult result
            = matcher.toMatchResult();
        System.out.println("Current Matcher: "
                           + result);

        while (matcher.find()) {
            // Get the first index of match result
            System.out.println(matcher.start(0));
        }
    }
}
Output:
Current Matcher: java.util.regex.Matcher[pattern=(G*G) region=0,19 lastmatch=] 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Reference: Oracle Doc
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