Replace with use of regular expression result

Question

Let's say I've got some text with a couple tags like this:

[twitter:jpunt]

I want to replace those into something like this:

<a href="http://twitter.com/jpunt">@Jpunt</a>

How could I do this in Ruby? I've been researching regular expressions for a couple of hours, just with a lot of frustration as a result. Anyone?

You don't need a regulare expression to replace a constant. Just search and replace. — user557597
– user557597, Commented Jul 20, 2012 at 20:42

madfriend · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-20 19:50:01Z

1

This should do the job:

initial = "[twitter:jpunt]"
link = initial.gsub(/\[twitter:(\w+)\]/i, '<a href="http://twitter.com/\1">@\1</a>')

answered Jul 20, 2012 at 19:50

madfriend

2,4301 gold badge23 silver badges26 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Tim Pietzcker Over a year ago

I can't see what's wrong with this answer. The only thing it doesn't do is capitalize the handle. Which I don't think it should, anyway. So +1 from me :)

Jpunt Over a year ago

Capitalizing the handle wasn't the point indeed. Thanks for your answer!

Ωmega · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-20 20:45:07Z

0

It is one line code (click here to test this code) >>

output = input.gsub(/\[([^:]+):([^\]]+)\]/) {
  '<a href="http://' + $1 + '.com/' + $2 + '">@' + $2.capitalize + '</a>' }

The above code works with any tag name. If you want just twitter to be allowed, then go with modification:

output = input.gsub(/\[twitter:([^\]]+)\]/) {
  '<a href="http://twitter.com/' + $1 + '">@' + $1.capitalize + '</a>' }

edited Jul 20, 2012 at 20:45

answered Jul 20, 2012 at 20:24

Ωmega

44k35 gold badges143 silver badges213 bronze badges

1 Comment

Jpunt Over a year ago

Thank you so much for the thorough example. Out of all things in tech, regexp is the thing I shutdown every time.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Replace with use of regular expression result

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related