October 12, 2003 PMATCH 9

### NAME

pmatch - performs pattern matching on strings

### SYNOPSIS

```int` pmatch(```const char *string``, const char *pattern``, const char **estr`)

### DESCRIPTION

Extract substring matching ```pattern` from ```string`. If not ```NULL`, ```estr` points to the end of the longest exact or substring match.

pmatch(``) uses the following metacharacters:

```?`
  match any single character.

```*`
  match any character 0 or more times.

```[`
  define a range of characters that will match. The range is defined by 2 characters separated by a ````-`'. The range definition has to end with a ````]`'. A ````^`' following the ````[`' will negate the range.

### RETURN VALUES

pmatch(``) will return 2 for an exact match, 1 for a substring match, 0 for no match and -1 if an error occurs.