javascript wildcard replace function

Question

The below script results in : res = NEW I would like the result to be: res = NEW_okok_NEW

The .+ finds the first START and the last END, but I want it to find the next START and the next/following END, and replace it. How is that possible ?

<script>
$ (function () {
var str = "START_sometext_END_okok_START_someothertext_END"; 
var res = str.replace(/(START.+END)/g,'NEW');
alert(res);
});
</script>

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:26

1

You should make your regex ungreedy, so it matches the less it can instead of the most.

/(START.+END)/g

becomes

/(START.+?END)/g

Now, it stops to the closest END. You can have more explanations about 'greedyness' here

edited May 23 '17 at 10:26

Community

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answered Aug 04 '14 at 07:23

tomaoq

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score 0 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 04 '14 at 07:28

0

You need to take the greediness out of your regexp.

str.replace(/START.+?(END)/g,'NEW');

=> "NEW_okok_NEW"

Demo

edited Aug 04 '14 at 07:28

cracker

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answered Aug 04 '14 at 07:23

techfoobar

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javascript wildcard replace function

2 Answers2