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I'm trying to search in a list of strings those who match a pattern. But it seems that StringExpression in functions such as Position or Case won't work as in StringCase.

Cases[{"ABC", "DEF"}, StringExpression["DE", _]]

{}

StringCases["ABC DEF", StringExpression["DE", _]]

{DEF}

Why this happens?

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    $\begingroup$ Cases[{"ABC", "DEF"}, _String?(StringMatchQ[StringExpression["DE", _]])] or Cases[{"ABC", "DEF"}, _?(StringMatchQ[StringExpression["DE", _]])] ? $\endgroup$
    – kglr
    Aug 30, 2021 at 3:44
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    $\begingroup$ Documentation for StringExpression states: StringExpression objects can be used in many string manipulation functions, including StringReplace, StringCases, StringSplit, and StringMatchQ.. If you want to use it in other functions, use StringMatchQ with StringExpression as @kglr commented. $\endgroup$
    – Ben Izd
    Aug 30, 2021 at 3:45

1 Answer 1

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Why this happens?

Because Cases expects an expression pattern and StringCases expects a string pattern.

With Case, write an expression pattern that invokes the string pattern matcher explicitly. Or better: use Select.

Select[{"ABC", "DEF"}, StringMatchQ["DE" ~~ _]]
(* {"DEF"} *)

Cases[{"ABC", "DEF"}, s_ /; StringMatchQ[s, "DE" ~~ _]]
(* {"DEF"} *)

See Select, Cases, StringMatchQ.

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