> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.coherent.global/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.coherent.global/assistant/custom-functions/regexsearch.md).

# REGEXSEARCH

{% hint style="info" %}
This function is only available in Coherent Assistant and not implemented into [Neuron](/build-spark-services/neuron.md). Spark services created with this UDF will not include this functionality.
{% endhint %}

Syntax: `CS.SPARK_REGEXSEARCH(find_regex, within_text, [start_num])`

Regular expression enabled [`SEARCH()`](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/functions/match-function) function to locate one text string within a second text string. Returns the relative position of that item in the range.

| Parameter        | Description                                                                                                              |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `find_regex` \*  | Regular expression pattern you want to match the `within_text` argument. It should be a valid regular expression string. |
| `within_text` \* | Text string in which you want to search for a regular expression pattern. It should be a valid text or cell reference.   |
| `start_num`      | If specified, this argument allows you to specify the starting position of the text.                                     |

## Example

Copy and paste the text below into cell A1 in a new worksheet.

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
Hello, my name is John Doe. My email is john.doe@example.com. I live in New York, and I work as a software engineer. My hobbies include reading, hiking, and photography. Contact me at +1234567890.
```

{% endcode %}

Copy and paste the regular expression below to the cell A2.

```regex
[a-zA-Z0-9._%+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,}
```

| Formula                        | Result |
| ------------------------------ | ------ |
| `=CS.SPARK_REGEXSEARCH(A2,A1)` | `41`   |