#!/usr/bin/env python import re src = 'asdhfoias_???????_????-?' zero = 'ashaadfio_sdhfo_ahaasdiof' qrx = re.compile( '\?+' ) for m in re.finditer( 'a+', zero ): print m.group() print m.span() print for m in qrx.finditer( src ): print m.group() print m.span() print m.start(), m.end() print for m in qrx.finditer( zero ): print m.group() print m.span() print