Match
object is always True
. >>> import re >>> m = re.search('(\d+)(?:_(\d+))(?:_(\d+))?(?:_(\d+))?(?:_(\d+))?','42_99_0') >>> m.groups() ('42', '99', '0', None, None) >>> m.group() '42_99_0' >>> m.group(1) '42' >>> m.group(2) '99' >>> m.lastindex 3