regex - Regular expression to match variable=value but ignore trailing blanks and comments -

i trying parse driver inf file , extract "variables" , "values" sections. have come basic regular expression:

"(.+?)\s*=\s*(.+)" 

this matches variable fine matches after equals , whitespace. in these files there may optionally trailing comments begin semicolon , dont want match. thought i'd try:

"(.+?)\s*=\s*(.+);?" 

but doesnt work. other issue there may white space before semicolon want ignore there may white space within value want match. here examples (using variable first match , value second):

class=display (the variable should "class" , value "display"

defaultdestdir = 11 ; system32 (variable="defaultdestdir" , value="11")

cpuxyz = 16483,au zy xy open ; comment (variable = "cpuxyz" , value = "16483,au zy xy open")

i'm looking expand initial regular expression "value" can cope of above examples.

negative character classes friend

lucky you, have in pocket today.

^([^=\s]+)[ ]*=[ ]*([^;\r\n]+) 

in the demo, @ capture groups in right pane.

explanation

• the ^ anchor asserts @ beginning of string
• in first (capture group), negative character class [^=\s]+ matches 1 or more chars not = or whitespace character (which included newlines)
• [ ]* matches optional spaces. brackets not needed, there clarity
• = matches literal =
• [ ]* matches optional spaces.
• in second (capture group), negative character class [^;\r\n]+ matches 1 or more chars not ; or newline characters