PHP regex. Convert [text](url) to <a href="url">text</a> [duplicate]

Question

I need some help converting all instances in a string that looks like this [text](url) into a clickable link like this <a href=“url“>text</a>?

Can you also provide an example of what you're trying to do? — Rwd
– Rwd, Commented Mar 19, 2017 at 13:58

Maciej Kozieja · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-19 14:03:49Z

2

You can use this regular exprestion \[(.*?)\]\s*$(.*?)$ and replace with <a href="$2">$1</a> like so

preg_replace('/\[(.*?)\]\s*\((.*?)\)/', '<a href="$2">$1</a>', '[text](url)');

\[(.*?)\] select anything between [] and store it in first capture group $(.*?)$ select anything between () and store it in first capture group

$1 use content of first capture group

preg_replace ( $pattern , $replacement , $subject ) take a look

answered Mar 19, 2017 at 13:59

Maciej Kozieja

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5 Comments

Exactly what i needed. Thanks you very much

Note that this code will create fake links for invalid URLs between the () part of []().

It asumes nobody writes ')' in url

That's definitely good to know. But in my case all the links are already validated.

@NIKO_B then it won't be a problem :)