Question

With preg_match, you can use <name> and it will add that to the output array.

With preg_replace, I’d like to match a url, such as "http://<url>\s" and then have that url preserved in the replacement string, such as "beforetheurl<url>aftertheurl"

Answer 1

Here is an example to my comment:

<?php

$result = preg_replace("/(matched)/", 'before$1after', "matched");

echo $result;

Output: beforematchedafter

http://codepad.org/PANzOm6c