Clojure replace a string with regex

Question

Hello I want to replace a string in a file but in a special way.

For example I'm searching for a string like " hideMenu()" by using the regex #"\WhideMenu\W" so that it will not return some text where hideMenu is inside like "willHideMenu()".

Well I'm using the replace function like this:

(clojure.string/replace textFile #"\WhideMenu\W" "hideMenu2")

But the problem is that it now replaces the first whitespace and last character of the textfile too.

For example if there is:

function hideMenu()

it will be:

functionhideMenu2)

Which is pretty logical but how do I use replace without loosing the first and last character? I want as result:

function hideMenu2()

M.S. · Accepted Answer · 2014-12-03 14:05:25Z

3

If clojure supports it, use lookahead and behind Regex:

(clojure.string/replace textFile #"(?<=\W)hideMenu(?=\W)" "hideMenu2")

otherwise you might need to match the character and use it in the replacement:

(clojure.string/replace textFile #"(\W)hideMenu(\W)" "$1hideMenu2$2")

answered Dec 3, 2014 at 14:05

M.S.

4413 silver badges14 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Kingalione Over a year ago

the second solution looks like that it works real good for my problem.

xsc Over a year ago

@Kingalione Note that these two solutions won't work for hideMenu directly at the beginning or end of the file. It might be irrelevant for your specific use case but it's something to keep in mind.

xsc · Accepted Answer · 2014-12-03 14:03:41Z

3

\W matches non-word characters and ( is one of them. What you probably want is a word-boundary match, expressed as \b:

(clojure.string/replace "hideMenu()" #"\bhideMenu\b" "hideMenu2")
;; => "hideMenu2()"

answered Dec 3, 2014 at 14:03

xsc

6,08325 silver badges31 bronze badges

1 Comment

NielsK Over a year ago

Another option is using capturing groups in the replacement. $0 is the whole of the capture, $1 the first capturing group, $2 the second etc. So (clojure.string/replace "function hideMenu() " #"\b(hideMenu)\b" "$12"). => "function hideMenu2() ". In this case it might be irrelevant since boundaries aren't captured, but it might be worth mentioning.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Clojure replace a string with regex

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related