import re from datetime import datetime HASHTAG_PATTERN = re.compile(r'(?>> highlight_keys("[P]rint [V]iew", "blue") >>> [('blue', 'P'), 'rint ', ('blue', 'V'), 'iew'] """ def _gen(): highlighted = False for part in re.split("\\[|\\]", text): if part: if highlighted: yield (high_attr, part) if high_attr else part else: yield (low_attr, part) if low_attr else part highlighted = not highlighted return list(_gen()) def highlight_hashtags(line, attr="hashtag"): return [ (attr, p) if p.startswith("#") else p for p in re.split(HASHTAG_PATTERN, line) ]