Dplreplace

Manual

dplreplace

This DPL3 module replaces a given pattern withing given text by the given replacement.

Syntax

{{#dplreplace:text|pattern|replacement}}, where:

• text is whatever text is to be searched within.
• pattern is a regular expression as defined by php preg_replace().
• replacement may contain references to matching parts.

Note: If you are not familiar with regular expressions and/or do not know the specifics of Perl regexp used in PHP, it may be helpful to see:

• The PHP manual and W3Schools for more information.
• RegExr for testing regular expressions.

Examples

Example 1: This replaces "ab" with "AB". This is the basic usage without using regular expressions as pattern.

{{#dplreplace:abrakadabra|ab|AB}}

Test in sandbox

View Result

Result 1: ABrakadABra

{{#dplreplace:abrakadabra|ab|AB}}

Example 2: This replaces "a" and its following characters until the next "r", with "A". This example uses a regular expression as pattern, indicated by the "/" characters, and is using the lookahead syntax ? to find the "r".

Matches, with the group match in (): "a(br)", "a(kadabr)".

{{#dplreplace:abrakadabra|/a(.*?r)/|A}}

Test in sandbox

View Result

Result 3:
AAa

Example 3: Replaces "a" with "A" if there is an "r" somewhere after the "a". The \1 references the group found between the "a" and "r" and puts it back into the replaced string.

Matches, with the group match in (): "a(br)", "a(kadabr)".

{{#dplreplace:abrakadabra|/a(.*?r)/|A\1}}

Test in sandbox

View Result

Result 3:
AbrAkadabra

Example 4: Replaces "a" with "A" if there is an "r" somewhere after the "a", and also replaces the "r" at the end of/outside the found group(s) with "_r_".

Matches, with the group match in (): "a(b)r", "a(kadab)r".

{{#dplreplace:abrakadabra|/a(.*?)r/|A\1_r_}}

Test in sandbox

View Result

Result 4:
Ab_r_Akadab_r_a