std::match_results::format

From cppreference.com
< cpplrm; | regexlrm; | match results
template< class OutputIt >

OutputIter format( OutputIt out,
const char_type* fmt_first, const char_type* fmt_last,
std::regex_constants::match_flag_type flags =

std::regex_constants::format_default ) const;
(1) (since C++11)
template< class OutputIt, class ST, class SA >

OutputIter format( OutputIt out,
const basic_string<char_type,ST,SA>& fmt,
std::regex_constants::match_flag_type flags =

std::regex_constants::format_default ) const;
(2) (since C++11)
template< class ST, class SA >

std::basic_string<char_type,ST,SA>
format( const std::basic_string<char_type,ST,SA>& fmt,
std::regex_constants::match_flag_type flags =

std::regex_constants::format_default ) const;
(3) (since C++11)
string_type format( const char_type* fmt_s,

std::regex_constants::match_flag_type flags =

std::regex_constants::format_default ) const;
(4) (since C++11)

format outputs a format string, replacing any format specifiers or escape sequences in that string with match data from *this.

1) The format character sequence is defined by the range [fmt_first, fmt_last). The resulting character sequence is copied to out.
2) The format character sequence is defined by the characters in fmt. The resulting character sequence is copied to out.
3-4) The format character sequence is defined by the characters in fmt and fmt_s respectively. The resulting character sequence is copied to a newly constructed std::basic_string, which is returned.

The flags bitmask determines which format specifiers and escape sequences are recognized.

The behavior of format is undefined if ready() != true.

Parameters

fmt_begin, fmt_end - pointers to a range of characters defining the format character sequence
fmt - std::basic_string defining the format character sequence
fmt_s - pointer to a null-terminated character string defining the format character sequence
out - iterator that the resulting character sequence is copied to
flags - std::regex_constants::match_flag_type bitmask specifying which format specifiers and escape sequences are recognized
Type requirements
-
OutputIt must meet the requirements of OutputIterator.

Return value

1-2) out
3-4) The newly constructed string containing resulting character sequence.

Exceptions

(none)

Example

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <regex>

int main()
{
    std::string s = "for a good time, call 867-5309";
    std::regex phone_regex("\\d{3}-\\d{4}");
    std::smatch phone_match;

    if (std::regex_search(s, phone_match, phone_regex)) {
        std::string fmt_s = phone_match.format(
            "$`"    // $` means characters before the match
            "[$&]"  // $& means the matched characters
            "$'");  // $' means characters following the match
        std::cout << fmt_s << '\n';
    }   
}

Output:

for a good time, call [867-5309]

See also

replaces occurrences of a regular expression with formatted replacement text
(function template)
options specific to matching
(typedef)