PHP preg_replace not matching multiple whitespace

Question

So,

I've got some legacy HTML I'm trying to use regex to remove the cruft from. Something like

<div class="al-list-head"><span>Another List</span></p>
<h3>Destinations</h3>
</div>

Another variant in HTML could be

<div class="al-list-head">
<p><span>Another List</span></p>
<h3>Lounge</h3>
</div>

(The CMS adds in redundant <p>'s sometimes).

My regex works for the most part (second sample) but not the first. I've tried a bunch of character classes, but can't seem to match the gap between the last </h3> and the final </div> in the the first sample.

My regex is...

$html = preg_replace( '/<div class=\"al-list-head\">[\s](<p>?)(<span>Another\ List<\/span>)(<\/p>?)[\s]<h3>([^<\/>]*)<\/h3>[\s]<\/div>/is', '<h3 class="al-head">$4</h3>', $html );

After the <\h3> I've tried [\s], ([\s]?), ([\s\b\n\r]*) and even (.*) with no luck.

Any pointers?

I'm using this handy little tool to iterate and test, hopefully someone finds it useful too.

Try adding the m modifier: your regex ends with /is, try /ism. — chwcz7F
– chwcz7F, Commented Jul 17, 2014 at 8:29

Stefan Hüsges · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-17 08:36:30Z

1

Use \s*

$html = preg_replace( '/<div class=\"al-list-head\">\s*(<p>?)(<span>Another\ List<\/span>)(<\/p>?)\s*<h3>([^<\/>]*)<\/h3>\s*<\/div>/is', '<h3 class="al-head">$4</h3>', $html );

answered Jul 17, 2014 at 8:36

Stefan Hüsges

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Avinash Raj · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-17 09:27:14Z

0

You could try the below regex, it could works for both example,

/<div\s*class=\"al-list-head\">\s*(<p>)?(<span>Another\s*List<\/span>)(<\/p>)?\s*<h3>([^<\/>]*)<\/h3>\s<\/div>/img

Replacement string:

<h3 class="al-head">$4</h3>

DEMO

answered Jul 17, 2014 at 9:27

Avinash Raj

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