Replace a combination of characters using regex java

Question

I have few string datasets in which I would like to replace a certain combination of characters using the regex replace in java. I tried multiple patterns but none of them helped. Could someone point me in the right pattern?

For example:

hello,[cicuyuv v,]imijmijm

in this string i want to replace ",[" and ",]" with a single "," wherever occured.

public class MainApp {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String data = "hello,[cicuyuv v,]imijmijm"
            .replaceAll("[,[\\[]]", ",");

        System.out.println(data);

    }

}

"hello,[cicuyuv v,]imijmijm".replaceAll(",[\\[\\]]", ",") try this — Mohsen
– Mohsen, Commented Dec 5, 2018 at 16:30

Wiktor Stribiżew · Accepted Answer · 2018-12-05 16:33:53Z

1

Your "[,[\\[]]" represents a [,[\[]] pattern that matches a single char, either a , or a [ (the [\[] character class inside another character class formed a character class union).

You may use

String data = "hello,[cicuyuv v,]imijmijm".replaceAll(",[\\[\\]]", ",");
System.out.println(data); // -> hello,cicuyuv v,imijmijm

See the Java demo

Here, ,[\[\]] is a regex pattern that matches , and then a [ or ]. Please be very careful with ] and [ inside a character class in a Java regex: they must both be escaped (in other flavors, and when you test at regex101.com or other similar sites, [ inside [...] does not have to be escaped. It is advised to use Java regex testing sites, like RegexPlanet or Java Regular Expression Tester (no affiliation).

edited Dec 5, 2018 at 16:33

answered Dec 5, 2018 at 16:29

Wiktor Stribiżew

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1 Comment

Wiktor Stribiżew Over a year ago

@Spara A hint: when I was an SO beginner, I earned points by posting answers that were just helpful, adding value to the already existing answers posted by more experienced regex users. This an off-topic conversation, I suggest you delete the comment above, and I will remove mine afterwards.

z atef · Accepted Answer · 2018-12-05 16:49:45Z

0

System.out.println("hello,[cicuyuv v,]imijmijm".replaceAll(",(\\]|\\[)" , ","));


, matches the character , literally (case sensitive)

Capturing Group (\\]|\\[)

1st Alternative \]
\] matches the character ] literally (case sensitive)

2nd Alternative \[
\[ matches the character [ literally (case sensitive)

answered Dec 5, 2018 at 16:49

z atef

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