regex replace multiple patterns

Question

I'm new in programming and need some help ;-) how can I replace multiple patterns in a string?

Example:

static void Main(string[] args)
{
  string input = "this is a test AAA one more test adakljd jaklsdj BBB sakldjasdkj CCC";
  string [] pattern = {"AAA", "BBB","CCC"};
  string replacement = "XXX";

  string result = null;
  for (int i = 0; i < pattern.Length; i++)
  {
    result = Regex.Replace(input, pattern[i], replacement);
  }

  Console.WriteLine(result);
}

Want the result:

this is a test XXX one more test adakljd jaklsdj XXX sakldjasdkj XXX

But I get:

this is a test AAA one more test adakljd jaklsdj BBB sakldjasdkj XXX

thx for help in advance!

omriman12 · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-26 07:05:35Z

1

You don't need a regex, you simply can use Replace:

string input = "this is a test AAA one more test adakljd jaklsdj BBB sakldjasdkj CCC";
string replaced = input.Replace("AAA", "XXX").Replace("BBB", "XXX")...

answered Jun 26, 2018 at 7:05

omriman12

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1 Comment

Sayse Over a year ago

I'd imagine AAA etc are placeholders for what could be more intricate regex

Dmitrii Bychenko · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-26 07:13:59Z

1

I suggest combining all patterns' parts ("AAA", ..., "CCC") with | ("or"):

  string input = "this is a test AAA one more test adakljd jaklsdj BBB sakldjasdkj CCC";
  string[] pattern = { "AAA", "BBB", "CCC" };
  string replacement = "XXX";

  string result = Regex.Replace(
    input, 
    string.Join("|", pattern.Select(item => $"(?:{item})")), 
    replacement);

  Console.WriteLine(result);

Outcome:

this is a test XXX one more test adakljd jaklsdj XXX sakldjasdkj XXX

I've turned each pattern part like BBB into a group (?:BBB) in case pattern part contains | within itself

edited Jun 26, 2018 at 7:13

answered Jun 26, 2018 at 7:08

Dmitrii Bychenko

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Comments

Peter B · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-26 07:17:35Z

0

You're overwriting the result variable throughout the loop repeatedly, there doesn't seem to be any need for it either, just use the input variable

input = Regex.Replace(input, pattern[i], replacement);
...
Console.WriteLine(input);

edited Jun 26, 2018 at 7:17

Peter B

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answered Jun 26, 2018 at 7:04

Sayse

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