JavaScript replace is not working if second argument is again a replace method

Question

I am playing with JavaScript string function and was trying to replace a string like below

Actual String : 'Microsoft' 
Replace with :  '\'$\'' is not defined

I tried a simple replace like

"Microsoft".replace("Microsoft","\'$\' is not defined");

and it results

' is not defined.

But I want to preserve $ sign so thought to write another function which will preserve the $ and return the string; and the same string would be the second parameter for the actual replace method.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>



<p id="demo">Microsoft</p>
<p id="test"></p>

<button onclick="myFunction()">Try it</button>

<script>
function stripslashes(str) {
    str=str.replace("/\\'/g",'');
    return str;
}
function myFunction() {
    var newStr = stripslashes('\'$\' is not defined.');
    var res = "Microsoft".replace("Microsoft",newStr);
    document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = res;
    document.getElementById("test").innerHTML = newStr;
}
</script>

</body>
</html>

But it is not working, can anyone help me with it ?

Your \ in the original string are being parsed away by JS when the assignment statement is executed. — Marc B
– Marc B, Commented Sep 9, 2014 at 20:19

user229044 · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-09 20:20:02Z

1

$' is a speical token for String.replace:

$' Inserts the portion of the string that follows the matched substring.

You need to use $$ to insert a literal $.

"Microsoft".replace("Microsoft","'$$' is not defined");

See https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/String/replace

answered Sep 9, 2014 at 20:20

user229044♦

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2 Comments

user2864740 Over a year ago

Also: "\'$\' is not defined" is the same as "'$' is not defined", and the slashes do nothing

AhmadAssaf Over a year ago

this doesn't create the string he wants '\'$\'' is not defined

AhmadAssaf · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-09 20:18:50Z

0

"Microsoft".replace("Microsoft","\\'$\\' is not defined");

answered Sep 9, 2014 at 20:18

AhmadAssaf

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5 Comments

Bergi Over a year ago

I'm sure he doesn't want to have any backslashes present in his result.

AhmadAssaf Over a year ago

look at his question: Actual String : 'Microsoft' Replace with : '\'$\'' is not defined .. the answer merits a downvote if its wrong, this gives him what he asked for

Bergi Over a year ago

I don't know, we'd need a comment from the OP for on that. However, he explicitly tries to use a stripSlashes() function… None of the downvotes is from me, sorry.

AhmadAssaf Over a year ago

no worries @Bergi :) i totally agree with you .. we need to hear back from the OP

Sadik Over a year ago

My actual problem is, '\'$\' is not defined' is a result of parser and that parser does one more thing like '{content}'.replace('{content}','\'\$\'is not defined'); When it tries to replace it replaces " ' " only as $ has special meaning in replace. So my entire thought process was, '{content}'.replace('{content}', '\'$\' is not defined'.replace('\'$\'','$') );

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