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GSC Regex Tester

Test Google Search Console regex filters (Include / Exclude) against a list of queries or URLs. This helps you filter reports correctly without guessing.

gsc regex tester search console regex include exclude filter regex examples
Test your regex
Include / Exclude
Tip: In Search Console, regex matches parts of the query/URL (not the whole line unless you use ^ and $).
Include = show only matches. Exclude = remove matches.
You can paste directly from Search Console export (queries/URLs). Blank lines are ignored.
Reset
Note: Search Console uses RE2 regex rules. This tester uses PHP’s regex engine for a best-effort preview. Most practical patterns still behave the same.
What “regex” means in Google Search Console
Plain English

In Search Console, a regex filter is simply a way to search through a long list of queries or pages using a “pattern”, not an exact phrase. This is useful when you want to group data like: all “how to” queries, all pages in /blog/, or everything containing your brand name.

Quick example: If your pattern is (free|cheap), it matches anything containing “free” or “cheap”.
Include vs Exclude (this confuses everyone)
Most common mistake
Include
Keep only the lines that match your pattern.
Exclude
Remove the lines that match your pattern.
Example: If you exclude brandname, you remove brand queries to focus on non-brand traffic.
The 6 most useful regex patterns (easy ones)
Copy/paste
how to
Matches any query containing “how to”.
^how
Matches queries starting with “how”.
(free|cheap)
Matches either word (free OR cheap).
20\d{2}
Matches a year like 2024 or 2025.
/blog/
Matches URLs containing /blog/.
\?
Matches URLs with query parameters (contains a question mark).
Common regex symbols explained (no jargon)
Cheat sheet
|
Means “OR”. Example: (free|cheap)
^
Start of line. Example: ^how matches “how…” only at the start.
$
End of line. Example: pdf$ matches “something.pdf” at the end.
.
Matches any character. (Be careful: it’s very broad.)
\d
Matches a digit (0–9). Example: 20\d{2}
\?
Matches a literal “?”. Useful for finding parameter URLs.
You do not need complex regex to get value. Most useful filters are simple.
What to do after you find a pattern
Next steps
Regex helps you discover opportunities. Rankings still come from content + technical cleanliness.
Final takeaway
Summary

Search Console regex filters are one of the easiest ways to find hidden growth opportunities — you just need confidence that your pattern is doing what you think it’s doing.

Paste → test → adjust. Once the filter is correct, you can make better decisions from your GSC data.