This merges/optimizes nested quantifiers.
Examples:
(?:a+)*
a*
(?:a{2,4})+
a{2,}
(?:a{4}){8}
a{32}
(?:a*|b+c|f+)*
(?:a{1}|b+c|f{1})*
This operation largely ignores the order of alternatives and usually reduces the ambiguity of the expression. If order or ambiguity have to be preserved, then the effectiveness of this transformer will be greatly reduced.
Optional
This merges/optimizes nested quantifiers.
Examples:
(?:a+)*=>a*(?:a{2,4})+=>a{2,}(?:a{4}){8}=>a{32}(?:a*|b+c|f+)*=>(?:a{1}|b+c|f{1})*This operation largely ignores the order of alternatives and usually reduces the ambiguity of the expression. If order or ambiguity have to be preserved, then the effectiveness of this transformer will be greatly reduced.