javascript regex match works but replace doesnt work

Question

I am trying to use regex replace with a regex I have. When I use the match method it returns the array with the proper index and match but when I use replace and add the replace string it wouldnt work.

var a = "$#,##0.00".match("[\\d+-,#;()\\.]+");
console.log(a);

Returns ["#,##0.00", index: 1, input: "$#,##0.00"].

var b = "$#,##0.00".replace("[\\d+-,#;()\\.]+","");
console.log(b);

Returns $#,##0.00 whereas I expect it to return just the $

Can someone point out what am I doing incorrectly? Thanks Link to the example is:

var a = "$#,##0.00".match("[\\d+-,#;()\\.]+");
console.log(a);
var b = "$#,##0.00".replace("[\\d+-,#;()\\.]+","");
console.log(b);

You're passing a string to replace() ?

adeneo
– adeneo

2017-04-19 19:53:37 +00:00
Commented Apr 19, 2017 at 19:53 — adeneo
– adeneo, Commented Apr 19, 2017 at 19:53
yes, an empty string as I just want $ as my result

phantomsays
– phantomsays

2017-04-19 19:54:36 +00:00
Commented Apr 19, 2017 at 19:54 — phantomsays
– phantomsays, Commented Apr 19, 2017 at 19:54

ibrahim mahrir · Accepted Answer · 2017-04-19 20:10:34Z

4

.match only accepts regexps. So if a string is provided .match will explicitly convert it to a regexp using new RegExp.

.replace however accepts both a string (which will be taken literally as the search) or a regexp, you have to pass in a regexp if you want it to use a regexp.

var b = "$#,##0.00".replace(new RegExp("[\\d+-,#;()\\.]+"), "");
//                          ^^^^^^^^^^^                  ^

or using a regexp literal:

var b = "$#,##0.00".replace(/[\d+-,#;()\.]+/, "");

edited Apr 19, 2017 at 20:10

answered Apr 19, 2017 at 19:55

ibrahim mahrir

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5 Comments

phantomsays Over a year ago

ohh! I did not know that, I thought replace by default consumes a reg exp. Thanks for pointing that

repeatdomiau Over a year ago

+1 to answer, just pointing another possible way: var a = "$#,##0.00"; var b = a.replace(a.match("[\\d+-,#;()\\.]+"), ""); Also works, because a.match(...) will be a string

ibrahim mahrir Over a year ago

@GabrielMilitello The fastest way to get from USA to Japan is over the atlantic ocean, eh? :D.

repeatdomiau Over a year ago

@ibrahimmahrir :D just one thing, replace with "", not "a"... Think OP edited the question...

phantomsays Over a year ago

yeah, I edited it, that was a typo. Thanks @Gabriel for pointing another way.

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