Remove slashes from string using RegEx in JavaScript

Question

I am trying to remove all special characters except punctuation from a customer complaint textarea using this code:

var tmp = complaint;
complaint = new RegExp(tmp.replace(/[^a-zA-Z,.!?\d\s:]/gi, ''));

but it keeps placing "/" in front, and in back of the string after sanitizing.

Example:

 Hi, I h@ve a% probl&em wit#h (one) of your products.

Comes out like this

 /Hi, I have a problem with one of your products./

I want

 Hi, I have a problem with one of your products.

Thanks in advance for any help given.

you replace which results in a string...then using that string you create a regexp object...no need to make a regexp object though — Logan Murphy, Commented Sep 12, 2013 at 0:15

jahroy · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-12 00:31:53Z

1

The variable complaint is converted to a regular expression because you use the RegExp() constructor.

This probably isn't what you want. (I assume you want complaint to be a string).

Strings and regular expressions are two completely different data types.

Your output demonstrates how JavaScript displays regular expressions (surrounded by / characters).

If you want a string, don't create a regular expression (i.e. remove the RegExp constructor).

In other words:

complaint = complaint.replace(/[^a-zA-Z,.!?\d\s:]/gi, '');

answered Sep 12, 2013 at 0:12

jahroy

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Dennis · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-12 00:13:12Z

1

You don't need the RegExp constructor:

complaint = tmp.replace(/[^a-zA-Z,.!?\d\s:]/gi, '');

answered Sep 12, 2013 at 0:13

Dennis

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1

Doesn't even need a temp variable, complaint = complaint.replace(...)
– elclanrs
Commented Sep 12, 2013 at 0:14
@JeffWalters: you won't just clean up your Code, it's the Remedy to your Problem, See jahroy's answer.
– collapsar
Commented Sep 12, 2013 at 0:16
Yes. It did. Thank you so much. I was banging my head trying to figure this one out. Now I know for future use.
– Jeff Walters
Commented Sep 12, 2013 at 0:21

2 Answers 2