Question

I am trying to replace $1, $2, $3 variables in a URL with another URL.
You can copy paste my example below and see my solution.

But I feel like there is a more elegant way with an array mapping type function or a better preg_replace type of thing. I just need a kick in the right direction, can you help?

    <?php
    /**
    *  Key = The DESIRED string
    *  Value = The ORIGINAL value
    *
    * Desired Result: project/EXAMPLE/something/OTHER
    */
    $data = array(
        'project/$1/details/$2' => 'newby/EXAMPLE/something/OTHER'
    );

    foreach($data as $desiredString => $findMe)
    {
        /**
        * Turn these URI's into arrays
        */
        $desiredString = explode('/', $desiredString);
        $findMe = explode('/', $findMe);

        /**
        * Store the array position of the match
        */
        $positions = array();
        foreach($desiredString as $key => $value) {
            /**
            * Look for $1, $2, $3, etc..
            */
            if (preg_match('#(\$\d)#', $value)) {
                $positions[$key] = $value;
            }
        }

        /**
        * Loop through the positions
        */
        foreach($positions as $key => $value){
            $desiredString[$key] = $findMe[$key];
        }

        /**
        * The final result
        */
        echo implode('/', $desiredString);
    }

Answer 1

Just saying, why don’t use an array pattern/replacement in preg_replace? Something like this:

<?php
/**
*  Key = The DESIRED string
*  Value = The ORIGINAL value
*
* Desired Result: project/EXAMPLE/something/OTHER
*/
$data = array(
    'project/$1/details/$2' => 'newby/EXAMPLE/details/OTHER'
);
$string = 'project/$1/details/$2';

$pattern[0] = '/\$1/';
$pattern[1] = '/\$2/';
$replacement[0] = 'EXAMPLE';
$replacement[1] = 'OTHER';
$result = preg_replace($pattern, $replacement, $string);

echo $result;

I think that it’s much easier than what you’re looking for. You can see that it works here: http://codepad.org/rCslRmgs

Perhaps there’s some reason to keep the array key => value to accomplish the replace?