freeCodeCamp/curriculum/challenges/english/02-javascript-algorithms-and-data-structures/regular-expressions/match-a-literal-string-with-different-possibilities.md

---
id: 587d7db4367417b2b2512b90
title: Match a Literal String with Different Possibilities
challengeType: 1
forumTopicId: 301345
---

## Description
<section id='description'>
Using regexes like <code>/coding/</code>, you can look for the pattern <code>"coding"</code> in another string.
This is powerful to search single strings, but it's limited to only one pattern. You can search for multiple patterns using the <code>alternation</code> or <code>OR</code> operator: <code>|</code>.
This operator matches patterns either before or after it. For example, if you wanted to match <code>"yes"</code> or <code>"no"</code>, the regex you want is <code>/yes|no/</code>.
You can also search for more than just two patterns. You can do this by adding more patterns with more <code>OR</code> operators separating them, like <code>/yes|no|maybe/</code>.
</section>

## Instructions
<section id='instructions'>
Complete the regex <code>petRegex</code> to match the pets <code>"dog"</code>, <code>"cat"</code>, <code>"bird"</code>, or <code>"fish"</code>.
</section>

## Tests
<section id='tests'>

```yml
tests:
  - text: Your regex <code>petRegex</code> should return <code>true</code> for the string <code>"John has a pet dog."</code>
    testString: assert(petRegex.test('John has a pet dog.'));
  - text: Your regex <code>petRegex</code> should return <code>false</code> for the string <code>"Emma has a pet rock."</code>
    testString: assert(!petRegex.test('Emma has a pet rock.'));
  - text: Your regex <code>petRegex</code> should return <code>true</code> for the string <code>"Emma has a pet bird."</code>
    testString: assert(petRegex.test('Emma has a pet bird.'));
  - text: Your regex <code>petRegex</code> should return <code>true</code> for the string <code>"Liz has a pet cat."</code>
    testString: assert(petRegex.test('Liz has a pet cat.'));
  - text: Your regex <code>petRegex</code> should return <code>false</code> for the string <code>"Kara has a pet dolphin."</code>
    testString: assert(!petRegex.test('Kara has a pet dolphin.'));
  - text: Your regex <code>petRegex</code> should return <code>true</code> for the string <code>"Alice has a pet fish."</code>
    testString: assert(petRegex.test('Alice has a pet fish.'));
  - text: Your regex <code>petRegex</code> should return <code>false</code> for the string <code>"Jimmy has a pet computer."</code>
    testString: assert(!petRegex.test('Jimmy has a pet computer.'));

```

</section>

## Challenge Seed
<section id='challengeSeed'>

<div id='js-seed'>

```js
let petString = "James has a pet cat.";
let petRegex = /change/; // Change this line
let result = petRegex.test(petString);
```

</div>



</section>

## Solution
<section id='solution'>

```js
let petString = "James has a pet cat.";
let petRegex = /dog|cat|bird|fish/; // Change this line
let result = petRegex.test(petString);
```

</section>