JavaScript replace all / with \ in a string?

Question

I have a javascript file that is ran through a windows job using cscript. However, I can't seem to fix this thing to work correctly. Inside the file, it basically takes a URL and transforms it to a UNC path.

ex: http://mysite.com/document1.htm to \myserver\document1.htm

However, I can't seem to get the /'s to goto \'s and am at a loss why.

I've tried 2 things basically

1) str = str.replace(/\/g, "\\");
2) str = str.replace("/", "\\");

Any idea why it wont work?

Thanks, Dave

+1 Really interesting, after it replaces the first slash, it makes it scape the second.. really interesting.. — Student
– Student, Commented Apr 20, 2011 at 19:57

Nick Craver · Accepted Answer · 2010-10-04 19:47:39Z

9

It's like this:

str = str.replace(/\//g, "\\");

the / on the end is the normal /pattern/ format, you need an extra for your \ escape, you can test it out here.

answered Oct 4, 2010 at 19:47

Nick Craver

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5 Comments

Tomalak Over a year ago

And str = str.replace("/", "\\"); does not work because, unless otherwise noted (by a regex with the g modifier), JavaScript only replaces the first occurrence.

Dave Over a year ago

is that just the regex for \ or is there another escape char in there that I can't see. It works fine but would like to understand why

EmmyS Over a year ago

that is the world's greatest link! I've been looking for something like this forever.

Nick Craver Over a year ago

@Dave - The ` \ ` is just to escape the ` / `, is that what you mean? I'm unclear on your comment.

Dave Over a year ago

Pretty much. I was thinking the // was / escaped.

user1213898 · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-07 10:51:33Z

3

You can use the following trick:

str = str.split("/").join("\\");

More generally:

function replaceAll(str, a, b) {
    return str.split(a).join(b);
}

This avoids regular expression nightmares.

answered Aug 7, 2013 at 10:51

user1213898

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