PHP preg_replace first name only

Question

PHP This is an oversimplification of a problem to get to the point.

I am trying to use preg_replace() on a $string that contains a name. I want to replace an O with an E in the first name only, if there is one. So I want to stop looking when I encounter the first space. There may be multiple spaces in the full name, but I am only looking at the first part of the name.

$string = preg_replace('/O/', 'E', $string);

How do I add code to tell it to stop at the first space?

Split the string with explode(), perform the replacement on the first element, then put it back together with implode(). — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Apr 15, 2019 at 19:15
There might be a way to do it in a single preg_replace() using a lookbehind, but this will be clearer. — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Apr 15, 2019 at 19:16
Yes I was trying to do it with just preg_replace. I use to do that in perl telling it to search up until you hit a space [^/s]. — wall-nut
– wall-nut, Commented Apr 15, 2019 at 19:20
Just change $string =~ s/xxx/yyy/ to $string = preg_replace('/xxx/', 'yyy', $string); and replace xxx and yyy with whatever you'd do in Perl. — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Apr 15, 2019 at 19:25

Igor Ilic · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-15 19:37:18Z

1

From the php.net manual for preg_replace:

preg_replace ( mixed $pattern , mixed $replacement , mixed $subject [, int $limit = -1 [, int &$count ]] ) : mixed

limit The maximum possible replacements for each pattern in each subject string. Defaults to -1 (no limit).

So for your code it would look something like this:

$string = preg_replace('/O/', 'E', $string, 1);

See the documentation for more info - PHP manual

answered Apr 15, 2019 at 19:37

Igor Ilic

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3 Comments

Greg Schmidt Over a year ago

If there's no O in the first name, but one in the last name, this will not do what the poster requests.

wall-nut Over a year ago

There could be more than one O in the first name, so there is no limit to the number of replaces to make in the first name.

Greg Schmidt Over a year ago

Why did you accept this answer when it's obviously not correct?

wall-nut · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-15 19:54:34Z

0

This worked for me.

$string = preg_replace('/O[^\s]/', 'E', $string);

answered Apr 15, 2019 at 19:54

wall-nut

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