From 3142822931c86ee8fa68e639399353d6d3492bb2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Josh Byster <8664074+josh-byster@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2018 00:03:22 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] Clarified alternation --- README.md | 13 +++++++------ 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 9b36ad1..e4d3561 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -303,15 +303,16 @@ See also [4. Lookaround](# 4. Lookaround). ## 2.6 Alternation -In regular expression Vertical bar `|` is used to define alternation. -Alternation is like a condition between multiple expressions. Now, you may be +In a regular expression, the vertical bar `|` is used to define alternation. +Alternation is like an OR statement between multiple expressions. Now, you may be thinking that character set and alternation works the same way. But the big difference between character set and alternation is that character set works on character level but alternation works on expression level. For example, the -regular expression `(T|t)he|car` means: uppercase character `T` or lowercase -`t`, followed by lowercase character `h`, followed by lowercase character `e` or -lowercase character `c`, followed by lowercase character `a`, followed by -lowercase character `r`. +regular expression `(T|t)he|car` means: either (uppercase character `T` or lowercase +`t`, followed by lowercase character `h`, followed by lowercase character `e`) OR +(lowercase character `c`, followed by lowercase character `a`, followed by +lowercase character `r`). Note that I put the parentheses for clarity, to show that either expression +in parentheses can be met and it will match. 
 "(T|t)he|car" => The car is parked in the garage.