Implement a method that matches an entire string with star wildcard pattern, e.g. returns true for ("*ogle", "Google"), but false for ("fragile*", "agile") - without using regular expression language support.

Question

kote · Accepted Answer

Following code should resolve the problem:

Consider that there can be only one '*' symbol in first pattern string 
boolean match (String a, String b) {
		boolean match = true;
		if(!a.contains("*")) {
			return a.equals(b);
		} else {
			String prefix = a.substring(0, a.indexOf('*'));
			String suffix = a.substring(a.indexOf('*')+1);
			if (StringUtils.isNotEmpty(prefix) && !b.startsWith(prefix)) {
				match = false;
			}
			if (StringUtils.isNotEmpty(suffix) && !b.endsWith(suffix)) {
				match = false;
			}
		}
		return match;
	}	

none of used class String methods use regular expression language support

Sigiloso · Answer

Solution for any number of "*" in pattern:


public boolean match(String str, String pattern)
{
    if (str == null || pattern == null) return false;
    if (pattern.isEmpty() || pattern == "*") return true;

    int j = 0;

    for (int i = 0; i < str.length(); i++)
    {
        if (pattern.charAt(j) == '*')
        {
            if (match(str.substring(i + 1), pattern.substring(j + 1))) return true;
        }
        else if (pattern.charAt(j) == str.charAt(i))
        {
            j++;
        }

        if (j == pattern.length()) return true;
    }

    return false;
}

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