Php preg_replace - regular expression (remove tokens)

Question

I have content with tokens and want to strip all token which DOES NOT start with test. For example I have content:

$content = 'Hello [test:username]. What are you [token:name]';
$string = preg_replace('/\[test(.*)\]/', '', $content);

This work but replace with empty string all token which start with test. I want opposite which does not start with test and replace all another. How should I change regular expression. I want to get this result after preg_replace:

$content = 'Hello [test:username]. What are you';

Look at the regex docs, especially using ^ at the beginning of your pattern... — Stuart
– Stuart, Commented Apr 2, 2016 at 7:01

Narendrasingh Sisodia · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-02 07:17:39Z

1

You can use the following regex

(?:\[test:[^]]+\])(*SKIP)(*F)|(?:\[\w[^]]+\])

So your code looks like as

preg_replace('/(?:\[test:[^]]+\])(*SKIP)(*F)|(?:\[\w[^]]+\])/', '', $content);

Explanation:

(?:\[test:[^]]+\]) // Will capture a group of tokens that have same 
                      pattern like as [test:...]

(*SKIP)(*F)        // This is supported by PCRE to skip the above captured group 

|(?:\[\w[^]]+\])   // This'll capture rest of the group that doesn't 
                     contains pattern like as [test:...]

edited Apr 2, 2016 at 7:17

answered Apr 2, 2016 at 7:09

Narendrasingh Sisodia

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1 Comment

Narendrasingh Sisodia Over a year ago

You're Welcome. Glad it helped you. @user3421014 I've also added an explanation too for future users

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