Regular Expression (Regex) monitoring in Auto Refresh Plus allows you to detect text patterns on a webpage instead of matching exact words or phrases. This is useful when the content changes frequently but follows a predictable format.
For example, instead of monitoring a fixed value such as:
In Stock
you can create a pattern that detects multiple variations of similar content.
What Is Regex Monitoring?
Regex monitoring is an advanced Page Monitor feature that searches for text patterns rather than exact text matches.
Unlike standard keyword monitoring, Regex can identify:
- Dynamic numbers
- Changing prices
- Variable stock quantities
- Multiple text variations
- Structured content patterns
This makes it useful for websites where the monitored content changes regularly.
How to Use Regex Monitoring
Follow these steps:
- Open the Auto Refresh Plus extension
- Go to the Monitor tab
- Select a keyword-based monitoring mode
- Enter a Regular Expression pattern in the monitoring field
- Start monitoring the page
The extension will evaluate the page content against the pattern and trigger an alert when a match is found.
Example Use Cases
Regex monitoring can be used to:
- Detect changing prices
- Monitor stock counts
- Track dynamic product availability
- Watch for changing numbers on dashboards
- Match multiple text variations with a single rule
Instead of creating multiple keywords, a single Regex pattern can monitor many possible matches.
Ready-Made Regex Examples
If you're new to Regular Expressions, you don't need to create patterns from scratch.
You can browse pre-built expressions and examples here:
These resources provide common patterns that can be used for monitoring prices, stock quantities, product availability, changing numbers, and other dynamic website content.
When Should I Use Regex?
Regex is recommended when simple keyword monitoring is not enough.
Use standard keyword monitoring when:
- You are searching for exact text
- The content does not change frequently
Use Regex monitoring when:
- The text changes often
- Numbers vary over time
- Multiple text formats need to be detected
- Pattern matching is required
For most users, standard keyword monitoring is easier to configure. Regex is intended for advanced monitoring scenarios.
Important Notes
- Regex monitoring is part of the Page Monitor feature
- Regular Expressions allow pattern-based matching instead of exact text matching
- Incorrect Regex patterns may not produce the expected results
- Plain text monitoring is recommended for simple use cases
Summary
Regex monitoring allows Auto Refresh Plus to detect patterns rather than exact text. It is useful for monitoring dynamic content such as prices, quantities, and changing website data where traditional keyword matching may not be sufficient.