CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javastring
elyar abad
elyar abad

Reputation: 788

How to replace multiple parts of a String while the parts have characters in common?

I need to change several parts of a single String where the specified parts have some Characters in common; for example:

worker => working

work => worked

note :: "=>" means "changes to"

Using codes such as below put out plenty of bugs:

String txt = "work like a real worker";
String txt2 = txt.replace("worker", "working").replace("work", "worked");

As I tested the codes above, they output "worked like a real workeding", however I need to get "worked like a real working".

Upvotes: 0

Views: 228

Answers (4)

Michael A. Schaffrath
Michael A. Schaffrath

Reputation: 2110

If you want to replace whole words, have a look at Michael's answer. If you want to replace some words that may be contained in other words without replacing the target-words of your previous replacement again, you can try adding an intermediate step like this:

String txt = "work like a real worker in the workplace";
String txt2 = txt.replace("worker", "{$1}").replace("work", "{$2}");
String result = txt2.replace("{$1}", "working").replace("{$2}", "worked");

prints

worked like a real working in the workedplace

Upvotes: 2

Saurav Dudeja
Saurav Dudeja

Reputation: 164

Use Regex

String txt = "work like a real worker";
String txt2 =  txt.replaceAll("\\worker\\b", "working").replaceAll("\\work\\b", "worked");

Upvotes: -1

Fabian M.
Fabian M.

Reputation: 35

The problem is, that it first replaces "worker" with "working", which is correct, but after that it replaces the "work" in "working" with "worked", which results in "workeding".

As you see the "work"-replacer replaces the second work too, which it shouldn't, because it doesn't stand alone.

To avoid that, simply put a space behind the work. With the space, it will only replace a work which stands alone without anything standing behind it (because there is a space seperating it from the next word).

It will also replace the space, so make sure to put a space behind the worked too.

It should look like this:

String txt = "work like a real worker";
String txt2 = txt.replace("worker", "working").replace("work ", "worked ");

Upvotes: 1

Michael
Michael

Reputation: 44090

If you use replaceAll rather than replace, you can use a regular expression. A regular expression will allow you to use \b to denote word boundaries. Doing it this way, you will only replace whole words rather than sections of words like you are doing at the moment.

String txt2 = txt.replaceAll("\\bworker\\b", "working").replaceAll("\\bwork\\b", "worked");

Upvotes: 3

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