string doesnt print out correctly using str replace

Question

So here is my code. I have to replace a space with an asterisk and if there are an occurence of two spaces in a row in the string replace it with one dash

<?php
$string = "Keep your    spacing   perfect!";
$search = array(' ','  ');
$search2 = array('*','-');
echo str_replace($search, $search2, $string);
?>

when i run it it prints out

Keep*your****spacing***perfect!

which is suppose to be

Keep*your--spacing-*perfect!

so what is wrong with my code and how do i fix it? I did some research but could not come to a solution. Any help is appreciated!

Syscall · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-17 21:20:43Z

1

You have just to swap your replaces. Because you replace single space before replacing double spaces.

$string = "Keep your    spacing   perfect!";
$search = array('  ',' '); // swap !
$search2 = array('-','*'); // swap !
echo str_replace($search, $search2, $string);

Outputs:

Keep*your--spacing-*perfect!

answered Mar 17, 2018 at 21:20

Syscall

19.8k10 gold badges44 silver badges60 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Zac · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-17 21:21:35Z

0

Try this:

<?php
$string = "Keep your    spacing   perfect!";
$string1 = preg_replace("/\s\s/", "-", $string);
$string2 = preg_replace("/\s/", '*', $string1);
echo $string2;
?>

The output of this is the following:

Keep*your--spacing-*perfect!

answered Mar 17, 2018 at 21:21

Zac

2,2571 gold badge12 silver badges17 bronze badges

Comments

lonesomeday · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-17 21:21:40Z

0

The answer is this line in the PHP manual entry for str_replace:

If search or replace are arrays, their elements are processed first to last.

So just put the order of the array values in the opposite order:

<?php
$string = "Keep your    spacing   perfect!";
$search = array('  ',' ');
$search2 = array('-','*');
echo str_replace($search, $search2, $string);

answered Mar 17, 2018 at 21:21

lonesomeday

239k54 gold badges330 silver badges329 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

string doesnt print out correctly using str replace

3 Answers 3

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related