Java: Replace only exactly matching URL

Question

I want to replace only exactly matching link given in String. My code is as follows:

String originalString = "<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://example.com/\"><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">ABC</span></a>"
            + "<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://example.com/contact/\"><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">Contact</span></a>";

String replacedString = originalString.replace("http://example.com/", "link1");
System.out.println("Replaced String:" + replacedString);


replacedString = "<a target="_blank" href="link1"><span style="font-size: 12px;">ABC</span></a><a target="_blank" href="link1contact/"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Contact</span></a>"

requiredString = "<a target="_blank" href="link1"><span style="font-size: 12px;">ABC</span></a><a target="_blank" href="link2"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Contact</span></a>"

I get Output as replacedString but required Output should be as requiredString.

Thanks in advance.

If you want to replace all occurrences of `http://example.com/` then use `replaceAll()` — Imran, Dec 01 '16 at 12:49
if you want to replace the whole string you should use a regex after the string which goes until next backslash — XtremeBaumer, Dec 01 '16 at 12:50
Your question was not clear earlier what to replace and what not to, hence `replaceAll` was suggested. Have a look [here](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6745154/how-to-replace-multiple-words-in-a-single-string-in-java) for solution. — Imran, Dec 01 '16 at 12:59

Maurice Perry · Accepted Answer · 2016-12-01T13:05:47.533

1

Replace the URL with the quotes:

String replacedString = originalString.replace("\"http://example.com/\"", "\"link1\"");
replacedString = replacedString.replace("\"http://example.com/contact/\"", "\"link2\"");

edited Dec 01 '16 at 13:05

answered Dec 01 '16 at 13:02

Maurice Perry

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The explanation is not clear ... and this will not gave the expected result. (but this is not really clear in the question) – AxelH Dec 01 '16 at 13:04
Then this is only a half solution ;) – AxelH Dec 01 '16 at 13:12

ItamarG3 · Answer 2 · 2016-12-01T13:07:59.817

0

The problem is that http://example.com/contact/ contains http://example.com/. Use this instead:

String replacedString = originalString.replace("http://example.com/contact/", "link2");
String replacedString2 = replacedString.replace("http://example.com/", "link1");

replacedString2 is the required output

edited Dec 01 '16 at 13:07

answered Dec 01 '16 at 12:48

ItamarG3

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replaceAll() also gives the same answer, it replaces both link. But I want "http://example.com/contact/" to be replaced with link2 – Twinkle Soni Dec 01 '16 at 12:52
@TwinkleSoni Updated my answer, now it does it right – ItamarG3 Dec 01 '16 at 12:55
replaceAll takes a regexp as the first argument. replace is the way to go – Maurice Perry Dec 01 '16 at 12:57
@MauricePerry right. I accidentally put `replaceAll()` – ItamarG3 Dec 01 '16 at 12:58
Then, I would suggest to create a map somewhere. because this will end up with multiple replace call for link3, link4, link5, ... ;) – AxelH Dec 01 '16 at 13:00
@AxelH there is no `link3,4,5` – ItamarG3 Dec 01 '16 at 13:01
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There was no `link2` in his question (except in the needed result). Something tells me this will be a problem pretty soon ;) – AxelH Dec 01 '16 at 13:03
@AxelH - that is true... I'm working on an implementation – ItamarG3 Dec 01 '16 at 13:07
@ItamarGreen it is working, but the order of links is not fixed. In my actual code I am extracting Links one by one and replacing them dynamically. So if example.com will come first then it will replace all strings. – Twinkle Soni Dec 01 '16 at 13:09
@TwinkleSoni could you please give an example of a longer url? just to make it clearer how it should be – ItamarG3 Dec 01 '16 at 13:10
@ItamarGreen don't bother OP doesn't need to add requirements ! He asked to replace a String. Nothing more. – AxelH Dec 01 '16 at 13:12
@AxelH - I don't think that's very nice to do that. OP needs help and I'm trying to give it (But if you think the answer is enough, by all means) – ItamarG3 Dec 01 '16 at 13:13
@TwinkleSoni as suggested earlier check here and implement one for yours. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6745154/how-to-replace-multiple-words-in-a-single-string-in-java – Imran Dec 01 '16 at 13:14
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@ItamarGreen, well OP doesn't care about your solution apparently ;) just want working codes... – AxelH Dec 01 '16 at 13:16

XtremeBaumer · Answer 3 · 2016-12-01T13:45:05.053

-3

working regex ishttp:\\/\\/example.com.*?(?=\\\\) in java. it matches all occurences of http://example.com and until the next backslash

edited Dec 01 '16 at 13:45

answered Dec 01 '16 at 12:58

XtremeBaumer

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Java: Replace only exactly matching URL

3 Answers3