Python regex match OR operator

Question

I\'m trying to match time formats in AM or PM.

i.e. 02:40PM
     12:29AM 

I\'m using the following regex

timePattern = re.compi         


        

Answer 1

Use a non-delimited capture group (?:...):

>>> from re import findall
>>> mystr = """
... 02:40PM
... 12:29AM
... """
>>> findall("\d{2}:\d{2}(?:AM|PM)", mystr)
['02:40PM', '12:29AM']
>>>

Also, you can shorten your Regex to \d\d:\d\d(?:A|P)M.