Javascript regex replace with escaped backslash

Question

I have a question about the replace backlash pattern with JavaScript replace method.

var display_user = "mycompany\bobandalice";
display_user = display_user.replace(/\\/g,"\\\\");
document.write(display_user);

I am hoping to substitute the backslash in the display_user with two back slashes so the document.write displays "mycompany\bobandalice" on the display.

Instead it displays "mycompanyobandalice".

What am I doing wrong ? (Thanks for your help)

Your string doesn't have a backslash in it, you have to escape it. "mycompany\\bobandalice" — Amous
– Amous, Commented Apr 26, 2016 at 0:17

zerkms · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-26 00:18:01Z

2

The display_user variable does not have the backslash literal at all, so you have nothing to replace.

When "mycompany\bobandalice" string is evaluated the \b sequence is interpreted as a backspace.

So the replace does not replace anything because it's too late - the backslash is not and honestly - was not there ever.

answered Apr 26, 2016 at 0:18

zerkms

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2 Comments

bobwilmes Over a year ago

Thanks @Zerkms - this snippet is from a real life example where the value assigned to display_user does have a single backslash in the value which is returned from an firewall in the meta pattern <domain name><single backslash><user name>.

zerkms Over a year ago

@bobwilmes okay. Not sure what it changes though.

Amous · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-26 00:21:15Z

0

The display_user string doesn't actually have a backslash character. Try escaping the backslash. Something like this:

var display_user = "mycompany\\bobandalice"; 
//                           ^ notice the escaped backslash 
display_user = display_user.replace(/\\/g, '&#92;');

answered Apr 26, 2016 at 0:21

Amous

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1 Comment

bobwilmes Over a year ago

Thank you @Amous - unfortunately the value is actually being passed to the code by a firewall in the meta pattern <domain><single backslash><username>. I'm trying to edit the single backslash to a double backslash to make the meta pattern variable displayable.

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