STR_REPLACE(3) 1 STR_REPLACE(3)
str_replace - Replace all occurrences of the search string with the replacement string
SYNOPSIS
mixed str_replace (mixed $search, mixed $replace, mixed $subject, [int &$count])
DESCRIPTION
This function returns a string or an array with all occurrences of $search in $subject replaced with the given $replace value.
If you don't need fancy replacing rules (like regular expressions), you should always use this function instead of preg_replace(3).
PARAMETERS
If $search and $replace are arrays, then str_replace(3) takes a value from each array and uses them to search and replace on $subject. If
$replace has fewer values than $search, then an empty string is used for the rest of replacement values. If $search is an array and
$replace is a string, then this replacement string is used for every value of $search. The converse would not make sense, though.
If $search or $replace are arrays, their elements are processed first to last.
o $search
- The value being searched for, otherwise known as the needle. An array may be used to designate multiple needles.
o $replace
- The replacement value that replaces found $search values. An array may be used to designate multiple replacements.
o $subject
- The string or array being searched and replaced on, otherwise known as the haystack. If $subject is an array, then the search
and replace is performed with every entry of $subject, and the return value is an array as well.
o $count
- If passed, this will be set to the number of replacements performed.
RETURN VALUES
This function returns a string or an array with the replaced values.
EXAMPLES
Example #1
Basic str_replace(3) examples
<?php
// Provides: <body text='black'>
$bodytag = str_replace("%body%", "black", "<body text='%body%'>");
// Provides: Hll Wrld f PHP
$vowels = array("a", "e", "i", "o", "u", "A", "E", "I", "O", "U");
$onlyconsonants = str_replace($vowels, "", "Hello World of PHP");
// Provides: You should eat pizza, beer, and ice cream every day
$phrase = "You should eat fruits, vegetables, and fiber every day.";
$healthy = array("fruits", "vegetables", "fiber");
$yummy = array("pizza", "beer", "ice cream");
$newphrase = str_replace($healthy, $yummy, $phrase);
// Provides: 2
$str = str_replace("ll", "", "good golly miss molly!", $count);
echo $count;
?>
Example #2
Examples of potential str_replace(3) gotchas
<?php
// Order of replacement
$str = "Line 1
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4
";
$order = array("
", "
", "
");
$replace = '<br />';
// Processes
's first so they aren't converted twice.
$newstr = str_replace($order, $replace, $str);
// Outputs F because A is replaced with B, then B is replaced with C, and so on...
// Finally E is replaced with F, because of left to right replacements.
$search = array('A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E');
$replace = array('B', 'C', 'D', 'E', 'F');
$subject = 'A';
echo str_replace($search, $replace, $subject);
// Outputs: apearpearle pear
// For the same reason mentioned above
$letters = array('a', 'p');
$fruit = array('apple', 'pear');
$text = 'a p';
$output = str_replace($letters, $fruit, $text);
echo $output;
?>
NOTES
Note
This function is binary-safe.
Caution
Replacement order gotcha
Because str_replace(3) replaces left to right, it might replace a previously inserted value when doing multiple replacements. See
also the examples in this document.
Note
This function is case-sensitive. Use str_ireplace(3) for case-insensitive replace.
SEE ALSO
str_ireplace(3), substr_replace(3), preg_replace(3), strtr(3).
PHP Documentation Group STR_REPLACE(3)