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Replace only first match using preg_replace

I have a line with a structure similar to: 'aba aaa cba sbd dga gad aaa cbz' . A string can be a little different each time because it is connected to an external source.

I would like to replace only the first appearance of 'aaa' , but not others. Is it possible?

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php regex preg-replace
Jul 18 '11 at 7:17
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3 answers

The optional fourth preg_replace parameter is limit :

 preg_replace($search, $replace, $subject, 1);
+83
Jul 18 '11 at 7:20
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You can use the limit preg_replace argument for this and set it to 1 so that no more than one replacement occurs:

 $new = preg_replace('/aaa/','replacement',$input,1);
+8
Jul 18 '11 at 7:19
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e.g. from $ content:

 START FIRST AAA SECOND AAA

1) if you use:

 $content = preg_replace('/START(.*)AAA/', 'REPLACED_STRING', $content);

it will change everything: from START to the last AAA, and your result will be:

 REPLACED_STRING

2) if you use:

 $content = preg_replace('/START(.*?)AAA/', 'REPLACED_STRING', $content);

Your result will look like this:

 REPLACED_STRING SECOND AAA
0
Mar 27 '13 at 11:15
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