PREG_REPLACE NIGHTMARE

[mocapoke]

Why is this preg_replace emptying the string rather than replacing it...

$string = file_get_contents("http://mocapoke.com/blogReader/select_list.html");
 $pattern = "<option value='$filetitle'>$y</option>";
 $newscon = preg_replace($pattern,"",$string);
echo $newscon;

Even if I enter a string to replace it with, the string is still empty... for example:

 

If I change the code to this:

$string = file_get_contents("http://mocapoke.com/blogReader/select_list.html");
 $pattern = "<option value='$filetitle'>$y</option>";
 $newscon = preg_replace($pattern,"REPLACED",$string);
echo $newscon;

 

REPLACED won't be printed.

 

[veridicus]

Your pattern is missing delimiters.  Typically forward slashes or pipes are used:  $pattern = "|<option value='$filetitle'>$y</option>|";

[effigy]

Your pattern needs delimiters. Try this:

 

$pattern = '/' . preg_quote("<option value='$filetitle'>$y</option>", '/') . '/';