[SOLVED] remove [square brackets and contents] from string

[andyd34]

Ho wwould I remove square brackets and there contents from a string, have tried

 

$option_title = preg_replace('`\[\w+\s+\w+\s+#\d+\]`', '', $option_title);

 

and

 

$option_title = preg_replace('/\[(^])*\)|]([])]/', '', $option_title);

 

and

 

$option_title = preg_replace('/\([^)]*\)|[()]/', '', $option_title);

 

any suggestions

[Alex]

try

~\[(.+?)\]~

[Adam]

Or even..

 

#\[.*\]#

[.josh]

Or even..

 

#\[.*\]#

 

Why don't you try running that through this string and see what happens:

 

[blahblah] some random stuff [more blah]

[Adam]

Darn it!

 

#\[.*?\]#

[cags]

While we're throwing out different methods...

 

"~\[[^\]]*\]~"

[Jenk]

/\[.*(?!<\])\]/mg

[nrg_alpha]

Granted, these solutions will not take on nested square brackets (in the event the actual source string in question involves this). One possible solution could be:

 

$str = 'This is a test to remove nested [[s]q[u]a[r]e] brackets [[from [t[hi]s] source [string]!]]';
echo $str = preg_replace('#\[[^[\]]*(??R)|.*?)+\]#', '', $str);

 

EDIT - If the chunk of square brackets extends multiple lines, simply add the s modifier.

 

@jenk, g is not a known modifier.

[.josh]

@jenk, g is not a known modifier.

 

in javascript it is the equivalent of preg_match_all vs. preg_match

 

not that this is supposed to be a js solution...just sayin', that's prolly where he was coming from.

[nrg_alpha]

Ah, I see.

[lihman]

$option_title = preg_replace('(\\[.*?\\])', '', $option_title);

 

That should work for you

[lihman]

I believe that the starter isn't interested in this thread anymore. I have tested my code and it works for me. Therefore, I request a mod to place a [solved] in the topic name.

 

Thank you

 

PS: Sorry for double posting. Just bringing it into the views of the mods

[.josh]

so I guess all the other people before you who already gave a viable solution don't count? IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU, ISN'T IT

[cags]

I'd have thought that as a Moderator Crayon Violent, you'd have realised that it's actually all about ME!

[lihman]

Sorry, if u thought I meant it that way. I meant to say that I have tested my solution and it does work. So it is solved for sure.

 

Many of the solutions above may work, but I have not tested them so i cannot say for sure.

 

Actually, upon testing

#\[.*\]#

, what Crayon Violent and MrAdam have said, I would say it is not recommended. I say this because it will also remove what comes before the brackets.

 

ex. fri[hello]day will become "day".

 

If that does not affect you, then feel free to use it.

 

Upon using

(\\[.*?\\])

, you will get "friday"

 

Just throwing it out there

[Adam]

If you go back and read it all you'll see I changed the reg exp to:

 

#\[.*?\]#

 

echo preg_replace('#\[.*?\]#', '', 'fri[hello]day');

S'plain how that doesn't work?

[lihman]

Or even..

 

#\[.*\]#

 

Why don't you try running that through this string and see what happens:

 

[blahblah] some random stuff [more blah]

 

Sorry, i didn't see that post. I only looked at what Crayon Violent had written.

 

So I stand corrected.

#\[.*?\]#

will work

Thanks for clearing it up MrAdam

[nrg_alpha]

Actually, upon testing

#\[.*\]#

, what Crayon Violent and MrAdam have said, I would say it is not recommended. I say this because it will also remove what comes before the brackets.

 

ex. fri[hello]day will become "day".

 

Really?

 

$str = 'fri[hello]day';
echo $str = preg_replace('#\[.*\]#', null, $str);

 

Aside from MrAdam correcting that post with the use of a lazy quantifier, the issue with using .* (or even .+) is demonstrated in the following: (post #14 shows the potential pitfall of this 'typically reckless' behavior - sometimes this behavior is actually beneifical.. but as a rule?  ).

[.josh]

also, I didn't suggest anything...I actually pointed out how someone's regex was flawed.  You really should take the time to read stuff...I'm sure you are quite lovable, but stuff like this makes me think you should be gob smacked.