Multi-Line Text Extraction from HTML with JavaScript Regex

When attempting to retrieve strings from HTML using a regular expression in JavaScript, it's crucial to consider the compatibility of modifiers. In your scenario, you are encountering issues with the multiline flag (/m).

The Dotall Modifier and JavaScript

The issue stems from the fact that JavaScript does not inherently support the /.../s modifier, also known as the "dotall" modifier. This modifier forces the dot (.) character to match newlines, which it typically doesn't.

Crafting a Workaround: Character Class

To circumvent the lack of the /s modifier in JavaScript, you can employ a character class () together with its negation (\S). This approach effectively matches any character, including newlines.

Updated Regex Syntax

With this in mind, your regex should be modified as follows:

/<div>

ES6 Support

It's worth noting that as of ES2018, JavaScript does support the "/s" (dotAll) flag. This means that in more modern environments, you can use your original regex syntax with the "/s" flag instead of the "/m" flag:

/<div>