RegExp.lastParen ($+)

Deprecated: This feature is no longer recommended. Though some browsers might still support it, it may have already been removed from the relevant web standards, may be in the process of being dropped, or may only be kept for compatibility purposes. Avoid using it, and update existing code if possible; see the compatibility table at the bottom of this page to guide your decision. Be aware that this feature may cease to work at any time.

Note: All RegExp static properties that expose the last match state globally are deprecated. See deprecated RegExp features for more information.

The RegExp.lastParen static accessor property returns the last parenthesized substring match, if any. RegExp["$+"] is an alias for this property.

Description

Because lastParen is a static property of RegExp, you always use it as RegExp.lastParen or RegExp["$+"], rather than as a property of a RegExp object you created.

The value of lastParen updates whenever a RegExp (but not a RegExp subclass) instance makes a successful match. If no matches have been made, or if the most recent regex execution contains no capturing groups, lastParen is an empty string. The set accessor of lastParen is undefined, so you cannot change this property directly.

You cannot use the shorthand alias with the dot property accessor (RegExp.$+), because + is not a valid identifier part, so this causes a SyntaxError. Use the bracket notation instead.

Examples

Using lastParen and $+

js
const re = /(hi)/g;
re.test("hi there!");
RegExp.lastParen; // "hi"
RegExp["$+"]; // "hi"

Specifications

Specification
Legacy RegExp features
# additional-properties-of-the-regexp-constructor

Browser compatibility

desktop mobile server
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Opera
Safari
Chrome Android
Firefox for Android
Opera Android
Safari on iOS
Samsung Internet
WebView Android
WebView on iOS
Bun
Deno
Node.js
RegExp.lastParen ($+)
Deprecated
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 1 (Release date: 2008-12-11)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 1 (Release date: 2004-11-09)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 10.5 (Release date: 2010-03-02)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 3 (Release date: 2007-10-26)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 11 (Release date: 2011-03-22)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 4.4 (Release date: 2013-12-09)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
footnote Full support
Bun – Full support
Bun 1 (Release date: 2023-09-08)
footnote Full support
Deno – Full support
Deno 1 (Release date: 2020-05-13)
footnote Full support
Node.js – Full support
Node.js 0.10 (Release date: 2013-03-11)
footnote Full support

Legend

Tip: you can click/tap on a cell for more information.

Full support
Full support
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.

See also