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

You're not capturing the Hour, minute fields:

>>> import re
>>> r = re.compile('(\d{2}:\d{2}(?:AM|PM))')
>>> r.search('02:40PM').group()
'02:40PM'
>>> r.search('Time is 12:29AM').group()
'12:29AM'