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Wildcard string compare (globbing)

By , 15 Feb 2005
 

Usage:

This is a fast, lightweight, and simple pattern matching function.

if (wildcmp("bl?h.*", "blah.jpg")) {
  //we have a match!
} else {
  //no match =(
}

Function:

int wildcmp(const char *wild, const char *string) {
  // Written by Jack Handy - <A href="mailto:jakkhandy@hotmail.com">jakkhandy@hotmail.com</A>
  const char *cp = NULL, *mp = NULL;

  while ((*string) && (*wild != '*')) {
    if ((*wild != *string) && (*wild != '?')) {
      return 0;
    }
    wild++;
    string++;
  }

  while (*string) {
    if (*wild == '*') {
      if (!*++wild) {
        return 1;
      }
      mp = wild;
      cp = string+1;
    } else if ((*wild == *string) || (*wild == '?')) {
      wild++;
      string++;
    } else {
      wild = mp;
      string = cp++;
    }
  }

  while (*wild == '*') {
    wild++;
  }
  return !*wild;
}

License

This article has no explicit license attached to it but may contain usage terms in the article text or the download files themselves. If in doubt please contact the author via the discussion board below.

A list of licenses authors might use can be found here

About the Author

Jack Handy
Web Developer
United States United States
No Biography provided

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GeneralRe: mp and cpmemberradboudp16-Feb-07 1:14 
GeneralOK, but ...memberSam Levy16-Feb-05 4:48 
QuestionWhy make 3 loop ?memberDarkYoda Mickael2-Feb-05 22:22 
AnswerRe: Why make 3 loop ?memberJack Handy13-Feb-05 10:02 
GeneralC# versionmemberSancy26-Oct-04 6:23 
GeneralRe: C# versionsussPsyk6621-Dec-04 3:39 
GeneralRe: C# versionmemberIonut FIlip22-Feb-05 6:15 
GeneralRe: C# versionmemberrobagar3-Apr-06 16:58 
GeneralRe: C# versionmemberSancy5-Jun-06 16:01 
GeneralConvert to java base on C# version [modified, better look :~ ]memberquangtin321-Mar-08 21:13 
GeneralRe: C# version - an error!memberMark T.4-Jul-08 14:37 
GeneralRe: C# versionmemberwilliamhix17-Oct-08 22:28 
GeneralMany thanks, with 1 small gripe ..memberDavid Patrick29-Sep-04 8:41 

most C compare functions return zero when the values are equal, but this function returns non-zero.
 
Personally, I find the non-zero to be more intuitive .. but after years of forcing myself to check for zero I find it a bit counter-intuitive.
 
I think I'll just rename the function when I add it to my library Smile | :)
 
But that certainly wont stop me from using this wonderful routine.
 
Many sincere thanks ...
 

GeneralRe: Many thanks, with 1 small gripe ..memberJack Handy6-Oct-04 8:13 
GeneralRe: Many thanks, with 1 small gripe ..memberVic Mackey16-Oct-04 19:33 
GeneralRe: Many thanks, with 1 small gripe ..memberVoja Intermajstor24-Nov-04 23:26 
GeneralNice code...membervoja2125-Aug-04 2:30 
GeneralSlight efficiency improvementmemberBill Buklis9-Jul-04 6:53 
GeneralRe: Slight efficiency improvementmemberBill Buklis9-Jul-04 7:19 
QuestionPathMatchSpec (shlwapi.h)?memberpeterchen28-Jun-04 6:56 
AnswerRe: PathMatchSpec (shlwapi.h)?memberJack Handy13-Feb-05 9:56 
GeneralDoesnt seem to work well..sussBikram Singh13-May-04 1:56 
GeneralRe: Doesnt seem to work well..memberJack Handy21-Jun-04 9:13 
GeneralCase Insensitive wildcmpmemberTechiex16-Mar-04 9:36 
GeneralRe: Case Insensitive wildcmpmemberNeville Franks16-Mar-04 9:52 
GeneralRe: Case Insensitive wildcmpmemberTechiex23-Mar-04 9:33 
GeneralRe: Case Insensitive wildcmpmemberDavidCrow23-Feb-05 2:24 
GeneralRe: Case Insensitive wildcmpmemberVic Mackey23-Feb-05 8:00 
GeneralRe: Case Insensitive wildcmpmemberDavidCrow23-Feb-05 8:22 
GeneralRe: Case Insensitive wildcmpmemberf_randy12-Jun-06 18:13 
GeneralExcellent code!memberHans Dietrich16-Jul-03 19:40 
Generalchecking for nullmemberJack Handy13-Mar-03 20:38 
GeneralRe: checking for nullsussAnonymous15-Mar-03 20:10 
GeneralRe: checking for nullmemberJack Handy18-Mar-03 13:25 
Generalgreat code, but ...sussAnonymous12-Mar-03 3:17 
GeneralRe: great code, but ...memberJack Handy13-Mar-03 20:34 
GeneralRe: great code, but ...sussAnonymous15-Mar-03 20:08 
GeneralRe: great code, but ...memberJack Handy18-Mar-03 13:25 
GeneralRe: great code, but ...sussAnonymous19-Mar-03 23:13 
GeneralNicememberChris Richardson16-Jan-03 10:58 
GeneralRe: NicememberJack Handy20-Jan-03 11:56 
GeneralCool CodesussAnonymous6-Dec-02 11:09 
GeneralRe: Cool Codememberhector santos1-Mar-03 1:53 
GeneralRe: Cool CodesussKent C. Dorner2-Mar-03 5:32 
GeneralRe: Cool Codemembergebrudergrimm28-Dec-03 10:18 
GeneralRe: Cool CodememberBrcKcc15-Jun-04 8:18 
GeneralYes man - you a really cool developermemberStanislav Panasik23-Oct-02 19:06 
GeneralRe: Yes man - you a really cool developersussAnonymous28-Mar-04 13:43 
GeneralPseudo Code...memberblahblah18-Apr-02 10:45 
GeneralRe: Pseudo Code...memberTargys8-Jan-03 2:43 

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