How to do this in Python...

[Tim Peters]

[Chad Netzer]
> match = re.match(pattern, string)
> if match is not None:
>     # do something with match object
> 
> Since if's can test for more than boolean values, and match is defined 
> to return None when it fails to match anything, not a False value.  

[Paul Rubin]
> Can a match object ever test as false?

Nope, and

    if match:

is idiomatic in this context.  Horrid listcomp abuse is not <wink>.