Java Matcher pattern() Method

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025

The pattern() method of the Matcher class is used to get the pattern to be matched by this matcher.

Example 1: The below example demonstrates how the pattern() method retrieves the regex pattern "G.*s$" used to match a string ending with "s" and starting with "G".

// Java code to illustrate pattern() method
import java.util.regex.*;

public class Geeks 
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        // Create a pattern from regex
        Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile("G.*s$");

        // Get the String to be matched
        String stringToBeMatched = "GeeksForGeeks";

        // Create a matcher for the input String
        Matcher matcher = pattern.matcher(stringToBeMatched);

        // Get the Pattern using pattern() method
        System.out.println("Pattern used: " + matcher.pattern());
    }
}

 
// Java code to illustrate pattern() method
import java.util.regex.*;​public class Geeks {    public static void main(String[] args)    {        // Create a pattern from regex        Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile("G.*s$");​        // Get the String to be matched        String stringToBeMatched = "GeeksForGeeks";​        // Create a matcher for the input String        Matcher matcher = pattern.matcher(stringToBeMatched);​        // Get the Pattern using pattern() method        System.out.println("Pattern used: " + matcher.pattern());    }}

Output

Pattern used: G.*s$

Syntax

public Pattern pattern()

Parameter: This method does not accept any parameter(s).
Return Value: This method returns a Pattern which is the pattern to be matched by this Matcher.

Example 2: The below example shows how the pattern() method returns the exact pattern "GFG" used to match repetitive occurrences in a string.

// Java code to illustrate pattern() method
import java.util.regex.*;

public class Geeks 
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        // Create a pattern from regex
        Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile("GFG");

        // Get the String to be matched
        String stringToBeMatched = "GFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFG";

        // Create a matcher for the input String
        Matcher matcher = pattern.matcher(stringToBeMatched);

        // Get the Pattern using pattern() method
        System.out.println("Pattern used: " + matcher.pattern());
    }
}

 
// Java code to illustrate pattern() method
import java.util.regex.*;​public class Geeks {    public static void main(String[] args)    {        // Create a pattern from regex        Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile("GFG");​        // Get the String to be matched        String stringToBeMatched = "GFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFG";​        // Create a matcher for the input String        Matcher matcher = pattern.matcher(stringToBeMatched);​        // Get the Pattern using pattern() method        System.out.println("Pattern used: " + matcher.pattern());    }}