javascript regex replace variable

Question

How can i replace character with regex, but from variable. Example:

var separator = '-';
text = text.replace(/[-\s]+/g, separator);

this will replace - trailing character with separator, which i the same in this case.

So, i need to set this - character from variable separator:

var separator = '-';
var regex = '/['+separator+'\s]+/g';
text = text.replace(regex, separator);

How can i do this? Thanks.

falsetru · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-13 16:57:14Z

7

Use RegExp to dynamically generate regular expression:

function escapeRegExp(string){
    return string.replace(/([.*+?^=!:${}()|\[\]\/\\])/g, "\\$1");
}
var regex = new RegExp('[' + escapeRegExp(separator) + '\\s]', 'g');

escapeRegExp comes from Regular Expressions - JavaScript | MDN.

NOTE: You have to escape \, and separator.

edited Sep 13, 2013 at 16:57

answered Sep 13, 2013 at 16:49

falsetru

371k69 gold badges769 silver badges659 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

nmaier Over a year ago

Also, you might have to escape separator itself, e.g. consider separator = "]"...

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

javascript regex replace variable

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related