Step 1: Marketplace Install
Open Settings/Preferences (Ctrl+Alt+S), navigate to Plugins, search for "RegExLab", and click Install. Restart your IDE when prompted.
JetBrains IDE Plugin
Master Regular Expressions in Real-Time
Start Installation View MarketplaceInstallation & Setup
Add RegExLab to your JetBrains workspace in under sixty seconds. The plugin installs directly from the official JetBrains Marketplace and automatically configures for IntelliJ IDEA 2023.3+, PyCharm Professional, and WebStorm.
Step 2: Tool Window Activation
Access the RegExLab panel via View → Tool Windows → RegExLab. Pin it to your right sidebar for continuous visibility while coding.
Step 3: Native Search Sync
Enable "Sync with Find/Replace" in plugin settings. Your active editor selection automatically populates the RegExLab input field.
Core Features
Bridge the gap between experimental regex patterns and production-ready refactoring. RegExLab operates inside your existing JetBrains workflows without overriding native behaviors.
Live Find/Replace Preview
Test capture groups and backreferences directly against your open file. See exactly which lines match before committing to a project-wide replacement.
Flavor-Aware Validation
Automatically detects Java, PCRE, or ECMAScript syntax based on your project language. Flags unsupported lookbehinds or character class errors in real-time.
Snippet Library & Export
Save frequently used patterns to your local JetBrains config. Export matched results to CSV, JSON, or directly paste replacement strings into the native Find toolbar.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Keep your hands on the home row. RegExLab maps to intuitive keybindings that complement JetBrains' existing navigation standards.
Open RegExLab Panel
Ctrl+Alt+R (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Option+R (macOS). Toggles the floating regex workspace without interrupting your current editor focus.
Send Selection to Plugin
Ctrl+Shift+R. Copies your highlighted text directly into the RegExLab test input area for immediate pattern matching.
Apply to Find Toolbar
Alt+Enter. Pushes your validated expression and replacement string straight into IntelliJ's native Find/Replace dialog, preserving regex mode flags.