DocumentationFormulasFunctionsRegextest

REGEXTEST function

PRO

The REGEXTEST function in Jspreadsheet Formulas Pro checks whether a text matches a regular expression and returns TRUE or FALSE. It is the simplest way to validate the format of a value directly in a formula, such as confirming that a cell holds an email address, a date in ISO format or a product code, and it pairs naturally with IF, FILTER or conditional formatting. An optional third argument switches the comparison to case-insensitive mode.

Documentation

Returns TRUE if a text matches a regular expression pattern and FALSE otherwise.

Category

Text

Syntax

REGEXTEST(text, pattern, [case_sensitivity])

Parameter Description
text The text, cell or range to test.
pattern The regular expression pattern.
[case_sensitivity] Optional. 0 = case-sensitive (default), 1 = case-insensitive.

Behavior

The REGEXTEST function searches the text for the pattern and returns a logical value. The pattern does not need to match the whole text unless it is anchored with ^ and $.

  • Matching is case-sensitive by default. Pass 1 (or TRUE) as the third argument to ignore case.
  • Numbers and logical values are converted to text before the test, so REGEXTEST(10, "^\d+$") returns TRUE.
  • An empty cell is treated as an empty string. It returns FALSE unless the pattern matches an empty string, such as an empty pattern.
  • When text is a range, the function returns an array with one logical value per cell.
  • Type backslashes once, as in \d or \w. There is no need to double them inside the formula.

Common Errors

Error Description
#VALUE! Returned when the pattern is not a valid regular expression, or when case_sensitivity is not 0, 1 or a logical value.

Best practices

  • Anchor the pattern with ^ and $ when the whole value must match the format, for example ^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$ for ISO dates.
  • Use REGEXTEST inside IF to display a friendly message, or inside FILTER to keep only the rows whose text has a given format.
  • Set case_sensitivity to 1 rather than listing both letter cases in the pattern.

Usage

A few examples using the REGEXTEST function.

REGEXTEST("abc123", "\d+")
// Returns TRUE

REGEXTEST("Hello World", "world")
// Returns FALSE, the comparison is case-sensitive by default

REGEXTEST("Hello World", "world", 1)
// Returns TRUE

REGEXTEST("2024-01-15", "^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$")
// Returns TRUE

REGEXTEST("john@example.com", "^[\w.]+@[\w.]+\.\w+$")
// Returns TRUE

REGEXTEST("abc", "[")
// Returns #VALUE! because the pattern is invalid

Interactive Spreadsheet Demo

<html>
<script src="https://jsuites.net/v6/jsuites.js"></script>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/jspreadsheet@13/dist/index.min.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://jsuites.net/v6/jsuites.css" type="text/css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/jspreadsheet@13/dist/jspreadsheet.min.css" type="text/css" />

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Material+Icons" />
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@jspreadsheet/formula-pro/dist/index.min.js"></script>

<div id="spreadsheet"></div>

<script>
// You can use the following license for quick testing on localhost, StackBlitz, or CodeSandbox.
// The license is valid for one day, after which the spreadsheet will become read-only.
// For a longer trial period, you can create a free account and generate a demo license with an extended expiration date.
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');

// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });

// Create a new spreadsheet
jspreadsheet(document.getElementById('spreadsheet'), {
  worksheets: [{
    data: [
    [
        "Email",
        "Valid email?",
        "Ends with .com?"
    ],
    [
        "john.doe@example.com",
        "=REGEXTEST(A2, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A2, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ],
    [
        "sarah.smith@company.org",
        "=REGEXTEST(A3, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A3, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ],
    [
        "not-an-email",
        "=REGEXTEST(A4, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A4, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ],
    [
        "mike@university.edu",
        "=REGEXTEST(A5, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A5, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ]
]
  }]
});
</script>
</html>

import React, { useRef } from "react";
import { Spreadsheet, Worksheet, jspreadsheet } from "@jspreadsheet/react";
import formula from "@jspreadsheet/formula-pro";
import "jsuites/dist/jsuites.css";
import "jspreadsheet/dist/jspreadsheet.css";

// Set license
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');

// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });

export default function App() {
    // Spreadsheet array of worksheets
    const spreadsheet = useRef();

    // Worksheet data
    const data = [
    [
        "Email",
        "Valid email?",
        "Ends with .com?"
    ],
    [
        "john.doe@example.com",
        "=REGEXTEST(A2, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A2, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ],
    [
        "sarah.smith@company.org",
        "=REGEXTEST(A3, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A3, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ],
    [
        "not-an-email",
        "=REGEXTEST(A4, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A4, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ],
    [
        "mike@university.edu",
        "=REGEXTEST(A5, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A5, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ]
];

    // Render component
    return (
        <Spreadsheet ref={spreadsheet}>
            <Worksheet data={data} />
        </Spreadsheet>
    );
}

<template>
    <Spreadsheet ref="spreadsheet">
        <Worksheet :data="data" />
    </Spreadsheet>
</template>

<script>
import { Spreadsheet, Worksheet, jspreadsheet } from "@jspreadsheet/vue";
import "jsuites/dist/jsuites.css";
import "jspreadsheet/dist/jspreadsheet.css";
import formula from "@jspreadsheet/formula-pro";

// Set license
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');

// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });

export default {
    components: {
        Spreadsheet,
        Worksheet,
    },
    data() {
        // Worksheet data
        const data = [
    [
        "Email",
        "Valid email?",
        "Ends with .com?"
    ],
    [
        "john.doe@example.com",
        "=REGEXTEST(A2, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A2, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ],
    [
        "sarah.smith@company.org",
        "=REGEXTEST(A3, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A3, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ],
    [
        "not-an-email",
        "=REGEXTEST(A4, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A4, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ],
    [
        "mike@university.edu",
        "=REGEXTEST(A5, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A5, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ]
]

        return {
            data
        };
    }
}
</script>

import { Component, ViewChild, ElementRef } from "@angular/core";
import jspreadsheet from "jspreadsheet";
import formula from "@jspreadsheet/formula-pro";

// You can use the following license for quick testing on localhost, StackBlitz, or CodeSandbox.
// The license is valid for one day, after which the spreadsheet will become read-only.
// For a longer trial period, you can create a free account and generate a demo license with an extended expiration date.
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');

// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });

@Component({
    standalone: true,
    selector: "app-root",
    template: `<div #spreadsheet></div>`
})
export class AppComponent {
    @ViewChild("spreadsheet") spreadsheet: ElementRef;
    // Worksheets
    worksheets: jspreadsheet.worksheetInstance[];

    // Create a new data grid
    ngAfterViewInit() {
        // Create spreadsheet
        this.worksheets = jspreadsheet(this.spreadsheet.nativeElement, {
            worksheets: [{
                data: [
    [
        "Email",
        "Valid email?",
        "Ends with .com?"
    ],
    [
        "john.doe@example.com",
        "=REGEXTEST(A2, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A2, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ],
    [
        "sarah.smith@company.org",
        "=REGEXTEST(A3, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A3, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ],
    [
        "not-an-email",
        "=REGEXTEST(A4, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A4, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ],
    [
        "mike@university.edu",
        "=REGEXTEST(A5, \"^[\\w.]+@[\\w.]+\\.\\w+$\")",
        "=REGEXTEST(A5, \"\\.COM$\", 1)"
    ]
]
            }]
        });
    }
}