/* package whatever; // don't place package name! */ import java.lang.*; import java.util.regex.Matcher; import java.util.regex.Pattern; /* Name of the class has to be "Main" only if the class is public. */ class Ideone { { final Pattern pattern = Pattern.compile(regex); final Matcher matcher = pattern.matcher("abcaa"); if (matcher.find()) { subMatch = matcher.group(); } else { subMatch = null; } } }