Replacing a string

Using pattern()->replace() you can:

• Limit replacements with:
  • replace()->first()
  • replace()->all()
  • replace()->only(int)
• replace with a constant value - with()/withReferences()
• replace with a computed value - callback()
• handle subjects that don't match the pattern for replacements - otherwise()/throwingOtherwise()/returningOtherwise()

Limiting replacements

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

$subject = "I'm 19, I have 192cm and I was born in 1999";

pattern('\d+')->replace($subject)->first()->with("___");

pattern('\d+')->replace($subject)->only(2)->with("___");

pattern('\d+')->replace($subject)->all()->with("___");

"I'm ___, I have 192cm and I was born in 1999"

"I'm ___, I have ___cm and I was born in 1999"

"I'm ___, I have ___cm and I was born in ___"

Read on to learn more about replacing with a constant value.