PHP preg_replace a json stringified object

Question

i have a regex challenge i can't solve on my own, i have a json stringified file that hold lots of entries so instead of decoding it and looping over all items i want just use a preg_replace to delete a specific item with specific id.

so my json look like this:

    [  
          {  
             "id":"440",
             "type":"prospect",
             "fullname":"elizabeth cogelizabeth",
             "phone":"01768413081",
             "..." : ""
          },
          {  
             "id":"436",
             "type":"prospect",
             "fullname":"mandy cogmandy",
             "phone":"01697349008",
             "..." : ""
          }
]

what i know is the id part so i can do something like this

preg_replace('/{\"id\"\:\"440\".*?\"},/', '', $jsonBlob);

unfortunately my regex don't keep in count the last item that doesn't end with comma , but with a bracket ]

any help is really appreciated. thanks in advance.

Not sure what you mean, your example doesn't have a ] that should cause ", to fail. I think {\s*"id":"440", or {\s*"id":"\d+", is easier to read. — chris85
– chris85, Commented May 9, 2016 at 16:13
i don't think it is a rather good idea using preg_replace here looping through json_decode array is far better — user2560539
– user2560539, Commented May 9, 2016 at 16:14
In the future I will name my child {bobby} just to throw off lazy code like this. — Niet the Dark Absol
– Niet the Dark Absol, Commented May 9, 2016 at 16:15
the issue here is also how fail safe are both ways not only how fast, best of all is if you have both of course, fast and fail safe @JulieRokk — user2560539
– user2560539, Commented May 9, 2016 at 16:32
Some People rather like to challenge themselves only for the purpose of growth & advancement. @Julie Rokk stated clearly, QUOTE: ...so instead of decoding it and looping over all items i want just use a preg_replace.... She already knew she could decode & loop & do it easily but still WITHOUT CHALLENGES, WHO EVER GROWS? & no one would register with SO if it were not for discovering new, better (& even strange) ways of doing things; because the sum total of 1 man's knowledge may just be a single byte vis-à-vis another man's Plus: 1 selfless act of help goes a long way!* — Poiz
– Poiz, Commented May 10, 2016 at 11:33

score 1 · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-09 16:27:53Z

1

Loop through JSON example using the id, in your case you don't need to use unset().

$json = '[  
          {  
             "id":"440",
             "type":"prospect",
             "fullname":"elizabeth cogelizabeth",
             "phone":"01768413081",
             "..." : ""
          },
          {  
             "id":"436",
             "type":"prospect",
             "fullname":"mandy cogmandy",
             "phone":"01697349008",
             "..." : ""
          }
]';
$arr = json_decode($json,true);
foreach($arr as $key => $value) {
if($value['id']==436) { 
unset($arr[$key]); // delete this entry from results
// $value = your_new_json_object {id,type,..}
}
}
print_r($arr);

Fiddle

edited May 9, 2016 at 16:27

answered May 9, 2016 at 16:22

user2560539

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1 Comment

user2560539 Over a year ago

({\s*\"id\":\"440\"[^}]*)((\s*},)|(\s*}\s*])|(\s*}\s*}\s*])|(\s*}\s*},)) regex101.com/r/xX5nD8/1 , regex101.com/r/xX5nD8/2 i am not a regex expert but this does the work :) Test it further if you wish by altering the internal of your json. It should fetch by id even if element is last in json (] instead of ,) , or try having a last sub-element like "...":{} instead of "...":""

Poiz · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-09 17:07:36Z

Would you mind to try this Function and see if it does the trick for you?

    <?php


        // PASS IN THE ID YOU WANNA FILTER-OUT AS $id,
        // 2ND PARAMETER IS THE JSON STRING
        // 3RD PARAMETER IS THE REPLACEMENT STRING: IN YOUR CASE EMPTY: ""
        function removeJsonBlock($id, $jsonSTR, $replacement="YEAH!!! IT WORKS!!!"){
            $jsonSTR      = trim($jsonSTR);
            $filteredJson = preg_replace('#(\{\s*)([\'\"]id[\'\"]\:)(\s?[\'\"])' . trim($id) . '([\'\"])([\w,\.;\"\'\-\?\:\s_\n\r]+)(\},?)#si', $replacement, $jsonSTR);
            return $filteredJson;
        }

        // THE JSON STRING IN QUESTION - REGARDLESS OF WHETHER DYNAMIC OR NOT.
        $jsonSTR =<<<JSS
        [
              {
                 "id":"440",
                 "type":"prospect",
                 "fullname":"elizabeth cogelizabeth",
                 "phone":"01768413081",
                 "..." : ""
              },
              {
                 "id":"436",
                 "type":"prospect",
                 "fullname":"mandy cogmandy",
                 "phone":"01697349008",
                 "..." : ""
              },
              // ADD ANOTHER NODE WITH THE SAME ID OF 440 FOR EXAMPLE...
              {
                 "id":"440",
                 "type":"prospect",
                 "fullname":"elizabeth cogelizabeth",
                 "phone":"01768413081",
                 "..." : ""
              },
        ]
JSS;

        // TEST THE SIMULATION... IT SHOULD REMOVE EVERY ENTRY WITH ID: 440
        var_dump(removeJsonBlock(440, $jsonSTR));


        //

I hope it helps in a little bit.... ;-)

tnx, unfortunately this does not work if i select the last item in the json string resulting in an invalid array

Laurel · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-10 18:52:12Z

0

You can use this regex:

{\s*"id":"440"[^}]*}

As a string that's:

$re = "/{\\s*\"id\":\"440\"[^}]*}/im";

This assumes that id is the first value in the JSON array, but it will account for whitespace. It uses [^}]* to grab everything up to the }.

Since you're looking to delete the item, the regex can be changed to look for commas before or after the match. I have also included a way for the item to match if it is the only thing in the array:

,\s*{\s*"id":"440"[^}]*}|{\s*"id":"440"[^}]*}\s*,|{\s*"id":"440"[^}]*}

It's easier to read with x spacing enabled:

,\s*{\s*"id":"440"[^}]*}    |
    {\s*"id":"440"[^}]*}\s*,|
    {\s*"id":"440"[^}]*}

edited Jun 10, 2016 at 18:52

answered May 9, 2016 at 16:22

Laurel

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2 Comments

Julie Rokk Over a year ago

nice one but this will not remove the comma after or before the item resulting in an invalid array

Laurel Over a year ago

@JulieRokk I've added a version that matches commas.

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