For instance, I have the following string:

table:column

I need to get "table" as the result of the php regular expression.

So, I need everything before the ":" symbol

After that regular expression is performed, I would also like to get everything after the ":" symbol, or "column" as well.

For something this simple, you may have better handeling using the explode/split method.

PHP Code:

$string = 'table:column';
 
$value = explode(':', $string);
 
$table = $value[0];
$column = $value[1]; 


Exactly. Exploding is a key tool, and should be memorized by every PHP developer. Every language I've worked with has an equivalent. For example, JavaScript has arrayObject = stringObject.split(":");