Javascript RegExp find and replace empty square brackets

Question

I have a string that contains something like name="text_field_1[]" and I need to find and replace the '1[]' part so that I can increment like this '2[]', '3[]', etc.

Code:

$search = new RegExp('1[]', 'g');
$replace = $number + '[]';
$html = $html.replace($search, $replace)

You can use explode in javascript and get a value in array and you can replace a particular array — devtut
– devtut, Commented Oct 9, 2011 at 16:40
Do you want the new replaced numbers to increase sequentially? (Also, when asking a question, it is always good to provide a representative example of before and after text.) — ridgerunner
– ridgerunner, Commented Oct 9, 2011 at 16:51

Samich · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-09 16:48:01Z

1

You can use \d in your regexp whitch means that onlu numbers used before []. Also you need to escape [] because of it's special characters in regexp.

$search = new RegExp('\\d+\\[\\]', 'g');
$replace = $number + '[]';
$html = $html.replace($search, $replace)

Code: http://jsfiddle.net/VJYkc/1/

edited Oct 9, 2011 at 16:48

answered Oct 9, 2011 at 16:40

Samich

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2 Comments

Friendly Code Over a year ago

Hi thanks for your answer. The problem is that the replace doesn't seem to be working. The number is fine, I just didn't know whether adding brackets into a string like that would get found properly as its not working

japrescott Over a year ago

Braces must be escaped within regexps... see my solution above

fragilewindows · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-11 15:28:39Z

1

You can use callbacks.

var $counter = 0;

$html = $html.replace(/1\[\]/g, function(){
    ++$counter;
    return $counter+'[]';
});

If you need [] preceded by any number, you can use \d:

var $counter = 0;
$html = $html.replace(/\d\[\]/g, function(){
    ++$counter;
    return $counter+'[]';
});

Note:

escape brackets, because they are special in regex.
be sure that in $html there is only the pattern you need to replace, or it will replace all 1[].

edited Nov 11, 2016 at 15:28

fragilewindows

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answered Oct 9, 2011 at 17:02

Arkt8

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Comments

japrescott · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-09 16:47:08Z

0

Braces must be escaped within regexps...

var yourString="text-field_1[]";
var match=yourString.match(/(\d+)\[\]/);
yourString=yourString.replace(match[0], parseInt(match[1]++)+"[]");

answered Oct 9, 2011 at 16:47

japrescott

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2 Comments

Friendly Code Over a year ago

Many thanks for the help, would this find and replace in a string globally?

japrescott Over a year ago

if you accept his answer, why are you asking? ^^ but yes it will!

Hemlock · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-09 16:58:38Z

0

Here's something fun. You can pass a function into string.replace.

  var re = /(\d+)(\[\])/g/;
  html = html.replace(re, function(fullMatch, value, braces) {
    return (parseInt(value, 10)+1) + braces;
  }

Now you can replace multiple instances of #[] in your string.

answered Oct 9, 2011 at 16:58

Hemlock

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