Regex replace url encoded string

Question

I have a string in which I want to replace the text [[signature]] with a given value, but because it is encoded, the text looks like %5B%5Bsignature%5D%5D.

How do I replace this using a regular expression? This snippet works, but only if the string is not encoded:

$replace = preg_replace('/\[\[signature\]\]/', 'replaced!', $html);

Why then use a regex? Use str_replace('%5B%5Bsignature%5D%5D', 'replaced!', $html) — Wiktor Stribiżew
– Wiktor Stribiżew, Commented Sep 23, 2016 at 9:45
Use the urldecode method available in Php before using your regex. — ThePerplexedOne
– ThePerplexedOne, Commented Sep 23, 2016 at 9:45

BadHorsie · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-23 09:57:16Z

5

You have encoded the string, so just decode it then run your replace.

$html = urldecode($html);
$replace = preg_replace('/\[\[signature\]\]/', 'replaced!', $html);

You can always encode it again afterwards if you need:

$html = urlencode($html);

Non-Regex Solution

If your find/replace is really that simple then you don't even need to use regex. Just do a standard string replace:

$html = str_replace('[[signature]]', 'replaced!', $html);

answered Sep 23, 2016 at 9:57

BadHorsie

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