Replace with a constant value

After replace(), you need to explicitly use one of first()/all()/only(int) methods, to express how many replacements should be done.

Specifying limits is done to relieve you from brain strain - so you can immediately recognize author's intentions.

Limits

Using first()/all()/only(int) is semantically identical to passing $limit argument to [preg::replace()]/[preg::replace_callback()].

Neither of methods first()/all()/only(int) modify the subject if it wasn't matched by a pattern.

First occurrence - first()

• T-Regx
• PHP

$subject = 'I like scandinavia: Sweden, Norway and Denmark';

pattern('[A-Z][a-z]+')->replace($subject)->first()->with('___');

'I like scandinavia: ___, Norway and Denmark'

All occurrences - all()

• T-Regx
• PHP

$subject = 'I like scandinavia: Sweden, Norway and Denmark';

pattern('[A-Z][a-z]+')->replace($subject)->all()->with('___');

'I like scandinavia: ___, ___ and ___'

Limited occurrences - only()

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• PHP

$subject = 'I like scandinavia: Sweden, Norway and Denmark';

pattern('[A-Z][a-z]+')->replace($subject)->only(2)->with('___');

'I like scandinavia: ___, ___ and Denmark'

Read on to learn more about replacing with a callback.

Regular expression references

Normally, had you passed a replacement to preg_replace(), that contains a backslash or a dollar sign followed by a number (eg. \1 or $2) - that reference would be replaced by a corresponding capturing group (or by an empty string, if the group wasn't matched).

preg::replace('/(\d+)cm/', '<$1>', 'I have 15cm and 192cm');

I have <15> and <192>

Resolving such references won't happen with T-Regx.

This is done to relieve you from the brain strain. A programmer should be able to merely replace a string with a constant value without [cognitive load] about possible \ or $ hiding somewhere.

• T-Regx
• PHP

pattern('(\d+)cm')->replace('I have 15cm and 192cm')->all()->with('<$1>');

I have <$1> and <$1>

You can be sure, what's put into with() will certainly be present unchanged in your final result.

Some replacement strings containing a backslash or a dollar sign (like file system paths, URL addresses or even user input) might interfere with logic and cause bugs that are very hard to find.

Neither of types of references are resolved: $12, \12 nor ${12}.

Intentional references

If you, however, would like to intentionally use regular expression references and have validated your input against an unexpected \ or $ - feel free to use withReferences() which will resolve replacement references.

• T-Regx
• PHP

pattern('(\d+)cm')->replace('I have 15cm and 192cm')->all()->withReferences('<$1>');

I have <15> and <192>