Remove the white space

Question

I’m using the .replace method to remove a character in a string. The issue I’m having is I’m using the parameters

.replace("#", "")

To remove the hashtag from a string that could be for example “# hello” The replace method is doing what I want in removing the hashtag however it leaves an actual blank space in the string when I use it. So “# hello” becomes “ hello” when really I want it to be “hello”. Is there a different method I can use or a different parameter I can use to achieve what I want?

Possible duplicate of [trim whitespace from a string?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3796121/trim-whitespace-from-a-string) — oyvindhauge, Oct 31 '17 at 14:21
`.replace("#", "").trim()` would do it. The `trim()` method removes leading and trailing white spaces from a string. — ThisClark, Oct 31 '17 at 14:21
@alwaysStuckJava until you have `"This # person"` ! `trim()` only "remove spaces" at the beginning and the end of the `String`. — AxelH, Oct 31 '17 at 14:29

jrtapsell · Answer 1 · 2017-10-31T14:29:00.017

5

Using regex

System.out.println("a # b c".replaceAll("#\\s*", ""));

This replaces # and optionaly some whitespace with nothing, so it outputs:

a b c

Regex 101 - Removes the highlighted sections

edited Oct 31 '17 at 14:29

answered Oct 31 '17 at 14:24

jrtapsell

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I would use a `replaceAll` and probably spaces before and after the `#` but the idea is there. – AxelH Oct 31 '17 at 14:28
Changed to replaceAll, before and after would stop it replacing `#hashTag` though – jrtapsell Oct 31 '17 at 14:29
@AxelH are you sure? https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hashtash - A moustache grown especially to hide drugs in. – DodgyCodeException Oct 31 '17 at 14:32
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@DodgyCodeException english is a wonderful language ... it was of course a typo ;) but I like the result ! – AxelH Oct 31 '17 at 14:49

rencinas · Answer 2 · 2017-10-31T14:55:07.780

Here is an example:

String string1 = "  #  WordIWantToKeep  ";//Blank spaces before and after
//Using the same variable
string1 = string1.replace("#", "").trim();

OUTPUT → "WordIwantToKeep" .trim() removes all blanks at the beginning and end of the string

It's important the order of the .replace() and .trim(). I recomend you to test this 2 different options, and see the output

string1 = string1.replace("#", "").trim();//Right answer for your post

OUTPUT → "WordIwantToKeep"

string1 = string1.trim().replace("#", "");

OUTPUT → " WordIwantToKeep"

But the way sorry if my english level isn't good enough.

Remove the white space

2 Answers2

Using regex

Regex 101 - Removes the highlighted sections