import java.util.regex.Pattern;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] argv) throws Exception {
String patternStr = "i.e.";
boolean matchFound = Pattern.matches(patternStr, "i.e.");
matchFound = Pattern.matches(patternStr, "ibex");
// Quote the pattern; i.e. surround with \Q and \E
matchFound = Pattern.matches("\\Q" + patternStr + "\\E", "i.e.");
matchFound = Pattern.matches("\\Q" + patternStr + "\\E", "ibex");
// Escape the pattern
patternStr = escapeRE(patternStr);
matchFound = Pattern.matches(patternStr, "i.e.");
matchFound = Pattern.matches(patternStr, "ibex");
// Returns a pattern where all punctuation characters are escaped.
}
public static String escapeRE(String str) {
Pattern escaper = Pattern.compile("([^a-zA-z0-9])");
return escaper.matcher(str).replaceAll("\\\\$1");
}
}