Find Text between special characters and replace string

Question

For instance I have a String that contains:

String s = "test string *67* **Hi**";

I want to to get this String :

*67*

With the stars, so I can start replace that part of the string. My code at the moment looks like this:

String s = "test string *67* **Hi**";

        s = s.substring(s.indexOf("*") + 1);
        s = s.substring(0, s.indexOf("*"));

This outputs: 67 without the stars.

I would like to know how to get a string between some special character, but not with the characters together, like I want to.

The output should be as followed:

//output: test string hello **hi**

Careful by replacing a `String` like this. You could replace more than you thought in `"test string *67* **Hi**, I am **67**"`. But since you are already able to find the `String` using `substring`, why not just take the left part, add the replacement part, add the right part. — AxelH, Sep 07 '17 at 13:25
Why you want to use replace ??? what you targeting is to separate the string, in this case I would say going with replace is not preferable. — Simmant, Sep 07 '17 at 14:08

MaxZoom · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-07T14:14:53.783

3

To replace only the string between special characters :

String regex = "(\\s\\*)([^*]+)(\\*\\s)";
String s = "test string *67* **Hi**";
System.out.println(s.replaceAll(regex,"$1hello$3"));

// output: test string *hello* **Hi**

DEMO and Regex explanation

EDIT
To remove also the special characters use below regex:

String regex = "(\\s)(\\*[^*]+\\*)(\\s)";

DEMO

edited Sep 07 '17 at 14:14

answered Sep 07 '17 at 13:21

MaxZoom

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I think this is great. But the output should be like this: // output: test string hello **hi** – Roadman1991 Sep 07 '17 at 14:06
Updated the regex to remove also the special characters – MaxZoom Sep 07 '17 at 14:15

Andremoniy · Answer 2 · 2017-09-07T13:32:34.850

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You just need to extend boundaries:

s = s.substring(s.indexOf("*"));
s = s.substring(0, s.indexOf("*", 1)+1);

edited Sep 07 '17 at 13:32

answered Sep 07 '17 at 13:19

Andremoniy

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Like [Mário Fernandes](https://stackoverflow.com/a/46097627/4391450) noted, since you keep the `*` in the first substring, your second `indexOf` will return 0 ;) – AxelH Sep 07 '17 at 13:27
was just going to comment that :) – Mário Fernandes Sep 07 '17 at 13:28

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 07 '17 at 13:26

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s = s.substring(s.indexOf("*"));
s = s.substring(0, s.indexOf("*", 1) + 1);

Your +1 is in the wrong place :) Then you just need to find the next one starting from the second position

answered Sep 07 '17 at 13:26

Mário Fernandes

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 07 '17 at 14:04

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I think you can even get your output with List as well

String s = "test string *67* **Hi**";

List<String> sList = Arrays.asList(s.split(" "));

System.out.println(sarray.get(sarray.indexOf("*67*")));

Hope this will help.

answered Sep 07 '17 at 14:04

Simmant

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Find Text between special characters and replace string

4 Answers4

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