Split using RegEx in JavaScript

Question

Let's say I have a generalized string

"...&<constant_word>+<random_words_with_random_length>&...&...&..."

I would want to split the string using

"<constant_word>+<random_words_with_random_length>&"

for which I tried RegEx split like

<string>.split(/<constant_word>.*&/)

This RegEx splits till the last '&' unfortunately ie

"<constant_word>+<random_words_with_random_length>&...&...&"

What would be the RegEx code if I wanted it to split when it gets the first '&'?

example for a string split like

"example&ABC56748393&this&is&a&sample&string".split(/ABC.*&/)

gives me

["example&","string"]

while what I want is..

["example&","this&is&a&sample&string"]

Answer 1

You may change the greediness with a question mark ? :

"example&ABC56748393&this&is&a&sample&string".split(/&ABC.*?&/);
// ["example", "this&is&a&sample&string"]

Answer 2

Just use non greedy match, by placing a ? after the * or + :

<string>.split(/<constant_word>.*?&/)