# Jeffrey Friedl

> software engineer

**Wikidata**: [Q2576121](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2576121)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jeffrey-friedl

## Summary
Jeffrey Friedl is a software engineer and computer scientist known for his expertise in regular expressions and contributions to software development. Born in 1966 in San Diego, he is a U.S. national who authored the seminal book *Mastering Regular Expressions* (1997), a foundational resource for developers. Friedl has worked at prominent tech companies, including Adobe and Yahoo.

## Biography
- **Born**: 1966, San Diego, U.S.  
- **Nationality**: United States  
- **Education**: Kent State University, University of New Hampshire  
- **Known for**: Authoring *Mastering Regular Expressions* and advancing regex education  
- **Employer(s)**: Adobe, Yahoo  
- **Field(s)**: Software engineering, computer science  

## Contributions
Jeffrey Friedl is best known for writing *Mastering Regular Expressions* (1997), a definitive guide to regex patterns used in programming. The book, published by O’Reilly Media, became a standard reference for developers and has been released in multiple editions. Friedl also maintains the website [regex.info](http://regex.info/), a hub for regex tutorials and tools, and publishes technical insights on his blog. His work at Adobe and Yahoo involved software development, though specific projects are not detailed in the source material. By demystifying regex, Friedl’s contributions have streamlined text processing and search functionality across industries.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Jeffrey Friedl’s most famous work?  
A: His book *Mastering Regular Expressions* (1997), a critical resource for programmers working with regex patterns.  

### Q: Where has Jeffrey Friedl worked?  
A: He has been employed by major tech companies, including Adobe and Yahoo.  

### Q: What languages does Jeffrey Friedl speak?  
A: He speaks English and Japanese.  

## Why They Matter
Jeffrey Friedl’s work has significantly impacted software development by making regular expressions accessible to a broad audience. His book and online resources have educated generations of programmers, enabling more efficient text manipulation and search algorithms. Without his contributions, regex might remain a niche tool rather than a staple of modern programming. His influence extends to industries reliant on data processing, from web development to bioinformatics.

## Notable For
- Author of *Mastering Regular Expressions* (1997), a landmark programming textbook.  
- Employment at Adobe and Yahoo, contributing to software innovation.  
- Maintenance of regex.info, a key online resource for regex education.  
- Expertise in both English and Japanese, reflecting his residence in Kyoto.  

## Body
### Early Life and Education  
Jeffrey Friedl was born in 1966 in San Diego, U.S. He studied at Kent State University and the University of New Hampshire, though specific degrees are not detailed in the source material.  

### Career  
Friedl has worked as a software engineer at Adobe and Yahoo, contributing to projects in the software and information technology sectors. His career spans multiple decades, with a focus on practical applications of computer science.  

### Major Works  
- **Mastering Regular Expressions** (1997): Published by O’Reilly Media, this book remains a go-to guide for developers. It explains regex syntax and use cases, influencing software development practices globally.  
- **regex.info**: Friedl’s website offers tutorials, tools, and a blog (http://regex.info/blog/) covering regex and programming insights.  

### Personal Life  
Friedl resides in Kyoto, Japan, and speaks English and Japanese. He identifies as Catholic. His online presence includes a Facebook profile and a former Google+ account.  

### Recognition  
While no awards are listed in the source material, Friedl’s work is recognized through institutional identifiers (e.g., VIAF ID: 120739050, ISNI: 0000000079504850) and library catalogs, underscoring his academic and professional influence.

## References

1. general catalog of BnF
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. CiNii Research
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File