Replace string only once with php preg_replace

Question

I need a replace string once function and believe preg_match might be my best bet.

I was using this, but due to the dynamicness of use, sometimes this function behav

Answer 1

You can also use T-Regx library:

pattern('[a-z]+')->replace($string)->first()->with($replace);

and also you should not use preg_quote(), as it's not safe - try Prepared Patterns.

Answer 2

You are looking for preg_quote instead of trying to escape the \ yourself (which doesn't take [, + and many others into account):

$return = preg_replace('/'.preg_quote($remove,'/').'/', $replace, $string, 1);