python re match example but not replace

Example 1: python re compile

import re
#	Compile a regular expression pattern into a regular expression object, which can be used for matching using its match(), search() and other methods, described below.

prog = re.compile(pattern)
result = prog.match(string)

#	is equivalent to

result = re.match(pattern, string)

Example 2: re sub python

# From Grepper Docs
>>> re.sub('-{1,2}', dashrepl, 'pro----gram-files')
'pro--gram files'
>>> re.sub(r'\sAND\s', ' & ', 'Baked Beans And Spam', flags=re.IGNORECASE)
'Baked Beans & Spam'