How to properly replace a character in a string using java regex?

Question

I my java app, I have a following character sequence: b"2 (any single character, followed by a double quote followed by a single-digit number)

I need to replace the double quote with a single quote character. I'm trying this:

Pattern p = Pattern.compile(".\"d");
Matcher m = p.matcher(initialOutput);
String replacement = m.replaceAll(".'d");

This does not seem to do anything.

What is the right way of doing this?

If by any single character you mean any letter, then the accepted answer is not correct since . matches any char, not a letter. Please clarify if you need more help with this. — Wiktor Stribiżew
– Wiktor Stribiżew, Commented Jan 12, 2018 at 7:42

shmosel · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-12 02:21:15Z

1

First off, d represents a literal character. You're looking for \d, which represents a numeric digit.

The other issue is that you're replacing variable characters with the string literal ".'d". One solution is to capture the variable portions and reference them in the replacement:

String replacement = initialOutput.replaceAll("(.)\"(\\d)", "$1'$2");

Another approach is to use lookarounds to check the surrounding characters without actually matching them for replacement:

String replacement = initialOutput.replaceAll("(?<=.)\"(?=\\d)", "'");

answered Jan 12, 2018 at 2:21

shmosel

51.1k7 gold badges81 silver badges148 bronze badges

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

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to properly replace a character in a string using java regex?

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related