Remove specific, non-html tags from a string

Question

I'd like to know how I can easily remove specific values from a string using C# and RegEx. I have the following HTML string:

Add [tt]PEELED PLUM SHAPED TOMATOES in tomato juice[/tt][rg]WHOLE PEELED TOMATOES[/rg][rp]WHOLE   PEELED TOMATOES in JUICE[/rp], basil, oregano, parsley, salt, black pepper, sugar, [tt]TOMATO SAUCE[/tt][rg]TOMATO SAUCE[/rg][rp]TOMATO SAUCE[/rp], [brand][rg]TOMATO PASTE[/rg][rp]TOMATO PASTE[/rp]

I need some way to filter out e.g. this part:

[tt]PEELED PLUM SHAPED TOMATOES in tomato juice[/tt]

So the [tt] tag should be removed as well as the text that is in between. If the [tt] tag occurs multiple times inside the source string, it should be removed as well.

It this doable by using RegEx?

Thanks, Daniel

Tim Pietzcker · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-20 10:20:09Z

1

Yes. As long as the [tt] tags are never nested, it's easy:

result = Regex.Replace(subject, @"\[tt\].*?\[/tt\]", "", RegexOptions.Singleline);

If you do expect nested [tt] tags, then you need to apply the following command repeatedly, once for each level of nesting:

result = Regex.Replace(subject, @"\[tt\](?:(?!\[/?tt\]).)*\[/tt\]", "", RegexOptions.Singleline);

edited Dec 20, 2012 at 10:20

answered Dec 20, 2012 at 9:40

Tim Pietzcker

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4 Comments

Firas Dib Over a year ago

...but what happens when the string looks like [tt]abc[tt]def[/tt]ghi[/tt]?? Oh thats right. Don't use regex to parse html.

Lincoded Over a year ago

If you're worried about nesting, it's easy enough to throw it into a loop and replace until there are no more matches.

Tim Pietzcker Over a year ago

@Lincoded: No, that wouldn't work with this regex. It would match [tt] foo [tt] bar [/tt]. It can be changed to handle that, though.

Lincoded Over a year ago

I wasn't trying to say that the exact regex mentioned above would work for nesting, but you're definitely right about that.

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