Why can't Regular Expressions use keywords instead of characters?

Question

Okay, I barely understand RegEx basics, but why couldn\'t they design it to use keywords (like SQL) instead of some cryptic wildcard characters and symbols?

Is it for pe

Answer 1

Well, if you had keywords, how would you easily differentiate them from actually matched text? How would you handle whitespace?

Source text Company: A Dept.: B

Standard regex:

Company:\s+(.+)\s+Dept.:\s+(.+)

Or even:

Company: (.+) Dept. (.+)

Keyword regex (trying really hard not get a strawman...)

"Company:" whitespace.oneplus group(any.oneplus) whitespace.oneplus "Dept.:" whitespace.oneplus group(any.oneplus)

Or simplified:

"Company:" space group(any.oneplus) space "Dept.:" space group(any.oneplus)

No, it's probably not better.