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Difference between /text/ and "text" in awk

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# 1  
Old 01-25-2013
Difference between /text/ and "text" in awk
Why does this search give different result in awk
I do see a mix of this in the example around the net.
What to use and why?


data
Code:
1 = red
2 = green
3 = blue
4 = black

Code:
awk '$3 == /blue/' data
"no result"

Code:
awk '$3 == "blue"' data
3 = blue

Code:
awk '$3 ~ /blue/' data
3 = blue

Code:
awk '$3 ~ "blue"' data
3 = blue

# 2  
Old 01-25-2013
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jotne
Why does this search give different result in awk
I do see a mix of this in the example around the net.
What to use and why?


data
Code:
1 = red
2 = green
3 = blue
4 = black

Here you are checking the exact string "/blue/" instead of "blue" with the third column.
Code:
awk '$3 == /blue/' data
"no result"

Here you are checking the exact string "blue" with the third column. If $3 have "blue ", It wont be matched with this.
Code:
awk '$3 == "blue"' data
3 = blue

Here you are checking that the string "blue" is present in the third column? If $3 have "blue ", It will be matched with this. This is pattern matching operator.

Code:
awk '$3 ~ /blue/' data
3 = blue

Here you are checking that the string "blue" is present in the third column? If $3 have "blue ", It will be matched with this. This is pattern matching operator.

Code:
awk '$3 ~ "blue"' data
3 = blue


If you want to check the exact string == opeator will be the better choice.
If you want to check the part of the string then pattern match would be better and has more variety of options and more powerful.

Cheers,
RangaSmilie
# 3  
Old 01-25-2013
The /.../ denotes a regular expression, which can include wildcards etc., against $3 will be matched. The matching operator is ~
The "..." denotes an exact string that can be matched, or can be used for an equality check (operator ==).

Actually, while staring at it, I can't see why the == doesn't like the regex.

@rangarasan:
Here you are checking the exact string "/blue/" instead of "blue" with the third column.
Sorry, I disagree. Exact string needs to be double quoted. So I think it still is a regex that awk doesn't like in that place.
Last edited by RudiC; 01-25-2013 at 06:04 AM..
# 4  
Old 01-25-2013
Thanks, I will try to read and understand what you are saying Smilie

If I search for a string, its better to use ".." and not /../ to make sure it works?

Code:
awk '$3 ~ /blue|black/'
awk '$3 ~ "blue|black"'
gives
3 = blue
4 = black

but
awk '$3 == /blue|black/'
awk '$3 == "blue|black"'
gives nothing

I still does not see why == does not work, it should eval the information and test one bye one and give result
Last edited by Jotne; 01-25-2013 at 06:15 AM..
# 5  
Old 01-25-2013
The | is used as an or operator when matching regexs ONLY. If you try == on it, it searches for the exact string including | in your input.
I think you need to understand the difference between "matching" and "comparing".
# 6  
Old 01-25-2013
This explain it. == is much more strict, so if you like to search for multiple information or regex, use ~

And with ~ if i search for simple text with some variance use ".."
For advanced regex use /../
# 7  
Old 01-25-2013
The only meaningful difference is with the ~ operator (/ .. / cannot be used with the == operator )
There is a difference between " .. " (string interpreted as ERE) and / .. / (ERE constant)

Compare:

Code:
$ echo '|a' | awk '$0~/\|a/' 
|a

$ echo '|a' | awk '$0~"\|a"' 
awk: illegal primary in regular expression |a at a

$ echo '|a' | awk '$0~"\\|a"' 
|a

" .. " allows for concatenations with variables, whereas / .. / does not...
Last edited by Scrutinizer; 01-25-2013 at 08:10 AM..
These 2 Users Gave Thanks to Scrutinizer For This Post:
Corona688 Jotne
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