How to replace a string with a string containing slash with sed?

Question

i am looking for a way to replace a string in a file with a string that contains a slash by using sed.

connect="192.168.100.61/foo"
srcText="foo.bar=XPLACEHOLDERX"
echo $srcText | sed "s/XPLACEHOLDERX/$connect"

the result is

sed: -e Expression #1, Character 32: Unknown option for `s'

manatwork · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-01 09:53:58Z

up vote 24 down vote accepted

Use another character as delimiter in the s command:

echo $srcText | sed "s|XPLACEHOLDERX|$connect|"

Or escape the slashes with parameter expansion:

echo $srcText | sed "s/XPLACEHOLDERX/${connect//\//\/}/"

answered Jun 1 '12 at 9:53

manatwork
13.4k14869

Awsome solution! Didn't know sed is that flexible =) – martin Jun 1 '12 at 12:34

+1 for second way. first one does not work on freebsd. – ibrahim Jul 8 '14 at 11:11

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Derek Schrock · Answer 2 · 2012-06-02 04:02:31Z

up vote 2 down vote

If your shell supports it:

"${srcText/XPLACEHOLDERX/$connect}"

answered Jun 2 '12 at 4:02

Derek Schrock
1211

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2 Answers 2