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up vote 2 down vote favorite

Javascript has an overload for string.replace(...) that takes a Regular Expression and a callback function, but I'm having a very difficult time finding ANY documentation on this specific overload!

W3Schools.com doesn't mention this overload. I've also gone through dozens of Google results, but every page talks about string.replace(string, string) or string.replace(RegExp, string). It's almost embarrassing not being able to find a solid Javascript documentation reference! My Google-fu has let me down.

I am mostly interested in knowing everything about the callback function, such as input parameters and return values. I'm also interested in any possible cross-browser issues.

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It's not a browser-specific extension, then? –  ta.speot.is Nov 6 '11 at 0:46
    
@Scott Waiting for Skyward Sword? ;) –  Šime Vidas Nov 6 '11 at 0:53
1  
@ŠimeVidas Yep! Playing through Wind Waker and Twilight Princess right now, in anticipation! –  Scott Rippey Nov 6 '11 at 0:58
    
@todda.speot.is I've used the method many times, and its usage is very common, so I would be very surprised to find out it isn't supported by major browsers. As SimeVidas points out, it is also mentioned in the ECMAScript specification. –  Scott Rippey Nov 6 '11 at 1:03

3 Answers 3

up vote 4 down vote accepted

MDN, of course: https://developer.mozilla.org/en/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/String/replace

Btw, it's specified in the ECMAScript specification, duh.

If replaceValue is a function, then for each matched substring, call the function with the following m + 3 arguments. Argument 1 is the substring that matched. If searchValue is a regular expression, the next m arguments are all of the captures in the MatchResult (see 15.10.2.1). Argument m + 2 is the offset within string where the match occurred, and argument m + 3 is string. The result is a String value derived from the original input by replacing each matched substring with the corresponding return value of the function call, converted to a String if need be.

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Thank you! I've bookmarked both these references, because I know I'll forget the answer once again. –  Scott Rippey Nov 6 '11 at 1:08
    
The following phrase is awfully generic -- can anyone explain it? "argument m + 3 is string." –  Scott Rippey Nov 6 '11 at 1:10
1  
@ScottRippey string is the original string upon which the replace method is invoked. See chapter "Specifying a function as a parameter" on the MDN page for details about the formal parameters of the function. –  Šime Vidas Nov 6 '11 at 1:19
up vote 1 down vote

Check out the MDN (Mozilla Developer Network) - https://developer.mozilla.org/en/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/String/replace

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up vote 1 down vote

The Mozilla Developer Network has pretty comprehensive Javascript documentation. Including for str.replace(regexp|substr, newSubStr|function[, Non-standard flags]);.

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