preg_replace function removing spaces from the string

Question

I try to build a Tagging System and it works fine there is an issue with function preg_replace(), it removes unnecessary spaces from the string.

An example of that is if my string is that

Hey !

@Yosi

@Ben

Spaces will be removed and it will become to that:

Hey!

@Yosi@Ben

It seems because my condition in preg_replace included as a string.

My code:

$String = preg_replace ('/(\s|^)@'.$Memory['Name'][$x].'(\s|$)/', '[URL="http://'.$_SERVER['HTTP_HOST'].'/member.php?u='.$Memory['UserID'][$x].'"]@'.$Memory['Name'][$x].'[/URL]', $String);

mario · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-22 16:43:16Z

1

Your regex strips any spaces, because that's what it looks for with (\s|^).

Either use lookaround assertions (?<=\s|^) and (?=\s|$) there.
Or assert non-wordy characters (?<!\w) and (?!\w) instead.
Or even just reinsert them into your substitution text with $1 and $2.

Also, your preg_replace looks like it is used in a loop. It's much simpler to just check all potential usernames by using preg_replace_callback like:

$string = preg_replace_callback("/(?<!\w)@(\w+)(?!\w)/",
    function($m) use ($names) {
        list($asis, $name) = $m;
        if ($isset($names[$name])) {
            return "[URL=....]";
        }
        else return $asis;
    },
    $string
);

Style advise: And avoid uppercase variable names. PHP isn't BASIC.

answered Mar 22, 2015 at 16:43

mario

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1 Comment

Almog Over a year ago

Ty, it works! i use in $1 and $2 for get back spaces. ;D

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