String to replace in shell upto certain context

Question

I want to replace string in file using sed/grep but the string is mingled with another strings

Example:

sed -i 's/php/vinu/g' test.yml  # to replace string php with vinu

test.yml

php
phpehealth
dophp
testingphpin

In the above yml file contains multiple "php" strings, but I want to replace only "php" string with "vinu" and rest should not touch.

expected o/p:

vinu
phpehealth
dophp
testingphpin

Maybe because you are using the /g flag. Remove the /g flag and it will work beatifully for you. Also if your string always starts with php then consider `/^php/vinu/g' — Valentin Bajrami
– Valentin Bajrami, Commented May 8, 2019 at 6:55
What about line with php inside? Should the php get replaced here? (The given answers would do so) Or do you only want to replace a php in a line of it's own? (Then try s/^php$/vinu/) — Philippos
– Philippos, Commented May 8, 2019 at 15:06
Hi Philippos, I want to rename only php rather than other strings — Kandikuppa Vinod
– Kandikuppa Vinod, Commented May 13, 2019 at 9:04

icarus · Accepted Answer · 2019-05-08 07:01:13Z

0

Use word boundaries in the regular expression if your version of sed supports them, e.g.

sed -i 's/\<php\>/vinu/g'

answered May 8, 2019 at 6:49

icarus

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Siva · Accepted Answer · 2019-05-08 07:31:07Z

0

Another way of word boundary :

sed -i 's/\bphp\b/vinu/g' file

answered May 8, 2019 at 7:31

Siva

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2 Answers 2