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Wildcard string compare (globbing)

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4.90/5 (82 votes)
15 Feb 2005 1.1M   96   144
Matches a string against a wildcard string such as "*.*" or "bl?h.*" etc. This is good for file globbing or to match hostmasks.

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

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Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralI found this very useful. Pin
Todd Smith4-Jan-02 14:40
Todd Smith4-Jan-02 14:40 
GeneralTest Cases Pin
Paul McGuire4-Dec-01 12:00
Paul McGuire4-Dec-01 12:00 
GeneralRe: Test Cases Pin
Lee Elenbaas9-Sep-08 23:05
Lee Elenbaas9-Sep-08 23:05 
GeneralSuper fast code - super, but... Pin
23-Aug-01 6:24
suss23-Aug-01 6:24 
GeneralGreat Code Pin
4-Jul-01 20:18
suss4-Jul-01 20:18 
GeneralRe: Great Code Pin
5-Jul-01 10:24
suss5-Jul-01 10:24 
GeneralRe: Great Code Pin
4-Jul-02 2:15
suss4-Jul-02 2:15 
GeneralRe: Great Code Pin
The C++ Guru8-Sep-02 7:22
sussThe C++ Guru8-Sep-02 7:22 
you're quite right in your argument.

what i do want to underline as a result of experience in building large software systems is: SMALLER IS NOT NECESSARILY BETTER/FASTER. in most cases it's not even faster to code!
what is true is that SMALL and UNREADABLE snippets IMPRESS MORE. maybe you get a hotter chick with that.

i admit this even it was me who wrote the shorter but slower wildcard matcher Cool | :cool: .
GeneralRe: Great Code Pin
Anonymous4-Dec-03 18:53
Anonymous4-Dec-03 18:53 
Generalwildcmp("fold","??*"); Pin
24-May-01 8:43
suss24-May-01 8:43 
GeneralRe: wildcmp( Pin
Jack Handy29-May-01 10:01
Jack Handy29-May-01 10:01 
GeneralNot DOS compatible Pin
Miroslav Rajcic2-May-01 3:56
Miroslav Rajcic2-May-01 3:56 
GeneralRe: Not DOS compatible Pin
Jack Handy2-May-01 12:03
Jack Handy2-May-01 12:03 
GeneralRe: Not DOS compatible Pin
Miroslav Rajcic6-May-01 23:04
Miroslav Rajcic6-May-01 23:04 
GeneralDOS compatible workaround Pin
5-Jul-01 1:47
suss5-Jul-01 1:47 
GeneralRe: Not DOS compatible Pin
W2k27-Dec-02 13:26
W2k27-Dec-02 13:26 
QuestionWhy, oh why only? Pin
2-May-01 2:17
suss2-May-01 2:17 
AnswerRe: Why, oh why only? Pin
Simon Capewell2-May-01 2:39
Simon Capewell2-May-01 2:39 
GeneralRe: Why, oh why only? Pin
5-Jul-01 10:27
suss5-Jul-01 10:27 
AnswerRe: Why, oh why only? Pin
Paul McGuire4-Dec-01 4:18
Paul McGuire4-Dec-01 4:18 

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