Javascript - Regex - Replace every other match in string with different strings

Question

So I have my code like this:

for (var i = 0; i < str.length; i++) {
    str = str.replace("|", "Math.abs(");
    str = str.replace("|", ")");
}

Is there anyway to get the same effect using a regex?

Or at least a regex with a function?:

str = str.replace(/?/g, function() {?});

anubhava · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-18 15:12:53Z

1

You can use this single regex replace method:

str = str.replace(/\|([^|]+)\|/g, 'Math.abs($1)');

RegEx Demo

answered Oct 18, 2014 at 15:12

anubhava

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thefourtheye · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-18 15:20:15Z

1

You can match the string between |s and then replace them with whatever string you want

str[i] = str[i].replace(/\|(.*?)\|/g, "Math.abs($1)");

For example,

var str = ["|1|", "|-2|+|22 * -3|"];
for (var i = 0; i < str.length; i++) {
    str[i] = str[i].replace(/\|(.*?)\|/g, "Math.abs($1)");
}
console.log(str);
# [ 'Math.abs(1)', 'Math.abs(-2)+Math.abs(22 * -3)' ]

edited Oct 18, 2014 at 15:20

answered Oct 18, 2014 at 15:11

thefourtheye

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4 Comments

user2039981 Over a year ago

What does the [i] mean?

thefourtheye Over a year ago

@Murplyx str[i] is to access the element at index i in the array.

user2039981 Over a year ago

What if there are multiple "|...|"'s like str[0] = "|-2|+|22 * -3|"

thefourtheye Over a year ago

@Murplyx You simply have to include the global modifier, like in the updated example.

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