php regex - Delete phrase

Question

I have a long string that has imbedded in it: "ABC_1_" and "ABC_2_" and "ABC_3_" etc.

For example:

"lorum ipsum ABC_1_ doit more ABC_3_ and so on".

I need to write a PHP preg_replace that will remove the 6 characters (ABC_xx) if the first 4 are "ABC_" and return the full remaining string, in my example:

"lorum ipsum  doit more  and so on".

Thanks!

Chandu · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-13 20:29:19Z

3

Use preg_replace with regular expression: (ABC_.{2} )

$string = "lorum ipsum ABC_1_ doit more ABC_3_ and so on";
$pattern = "/(ABC_.{2})/";
$replacement = "";
echo preg_replace($pattern, $replacement, $string);

answered Jan 13, 2011 at 20:29

Chandu

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2 Comments

sdfor Over a year ago

Thanks! Nice bass clef icon!

Chandu Over a year ago

Id didn't know what's it called. Now I know :)

Mark Byers · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-13 20:42:10Z

2

Try this:

$s = preg_replace('/\bABC_../', '', $s);

The \b matches a word boundary, and the dots match any character (apart from new line).

Full example:

<?php
$s = 'ABC_1_foo lorum ipsum ABC_1_ doit more ABC_3_ and so on'; 
$s = preg_replace('/\bABC_../', '', $s);
echo $s;
?>

Result:

foo lorum ipsum  doit more  and so on

(ideone)

edited Jan 13, 2011 at 20:42

answered Jan 13, 2011 at 20:27

Mark Byers

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2 Comments

sdfor Over a year ago

this works. I removed the \b because the phrase may not be on a word boundary. But I didn't specify that in my question. THANKS!!!

Mark Byers Over a year ago

@sdfor: The reason for the word boundary was so that it doesn't accidentally match DABC_D_. But if you want that to match then yes you don't need the word boundary.

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