Using preg_replace and regex in php

Question

I have this string in PHP

$content="<a some_text> {pr_start} some_text</a> <a other_text>{pr_stop}</a>
          <a some_text> {pr_start} </a> <a some_text> {pr_start} </a>";

I want to replace all the occurrences of the substring

"<a some_text> {pr_start}  some_text</a>"

with text "START" and leave the rest as it is!

The result expected is:

"START <a other_text>{pr_stop}</a> START START"

I used

preg_replace('#<a(.*)({pr_start})(.*)</a>#',"START",$content);

Any idea? Thanks!

Jon Lin · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-04 12:35:32Z

2

You need to add an ungreedy flag U in your pattern:

preg_replace('#<a(.*)({pr_start})(.*)</a>#U',"START",$content);

answered Oct 4, 2013 at 12:35

Jon Lin

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