Hi i am trying to match a string against a pattern this is the possible string signal CS, NS, dl: stateType := writeOrRead0; signal CS, pS : stateType := writeOrRead0; signal dS : stateType := writeOrRead0; i am only concerned with the pattern as far as the first colon. but the number of signals define can be more than one it could be three or four even this is the regular expression i have ^signal\\s*(\\w+),*\\s*(\\w+)\\s*: it will pick up the second two signal but and for the second one it picks up CS and pS and but the d and S in the next signal when i use matcher.group() come up seperately Can anyone give me an expression that will pick up all signal names whether there is one two three or more?