Remove square brackets at beginning and ending of string

javascript regex

12,811

Solution 1

string.replace(/^\[(.+)\]$/,'$1')

should do the trick.

^ matches the begining of the string
$ matches the end of the string.
(.+) matches everything in between, to report it back in the final string.

Solution 2

Blue112 provided a solution to remove [ and ] from the beginning/end of a line (if both are present).

To remove [ and ] from start/end of a string (if both are present) you need

input.replace(/^\[([\s\S]*)]$/,'$1')

input.replace(/^\[([^]*)]$/,'$1')

In JS, to match any symbol including a newline, you either use [\s\S] (or [\w\W] or [\d\D]), or [^] that matches any non-nothing.

var s = "[word  \n[line]]";
console.log(s.replace(/^\[([\s\S]*)]$/, "$1"));

12,811

Author by

user3142695

People who say nothing is impossible should try gargling with their mouths closed.

Updated on June 13, 2022

Comments

user3142695 almost 2 years
I would like to remove square brackets from beginning and end of a string, if they are existing.
```
[Just a string]
Just a string
Just a string [comment]
[Just a string [comment]]
```
Should result in
```
Just a string
Just a string
Just a string [comment]
Just a string [comment]
```
I tried to build an regex, but I don't get it in a correct way, as it doesn't look for the position:
```
string.replace(/[\[\]]+/g,'')
```
Cerbrus almost 8 years

console.log("[just a [string]".replace(/^\[(.+)\]$/,'$1')); will return "just a [string"
blue112 almost 8 years

OP doesn't want to build a bracket matcher, just a regex that removes final and first bracket, if both are present. Please don't over-assume.
Cerbrus almost 8 years

You're assuming "OP doesn't want to build a bracket matcher". We're both making assumptions, and I'm just pointing out a potential flaw.
Matt Burland almost 8 years

@Cerbrus we only have what the OP gives us in way of definition for the problem. And in the comments on the question they have already stated that that input would have been invalid anyway.
Cerbrus almost 8 years

Aren't reliable pieces of software supposed to be capable of dealing with invalid input? In other words: Shouldn't it check for invalid input?
user3142695 almost 8 years

@blue112 You are right, I just need that simple thing.
Wiktor Stribiżew almost 8 years

Anyway, this won't match "[word\nline]" because . does not match everything.
Wiktor Stribiżew almost 8 years

It is identical to blue112's solution.
epascarello almost 8 years

That is what happens when you go get coffee and than answer
Matt Burland almost 8 years

@Cerbrus: yes, but those are two separate problems. Checking the validity and removing the outer brackets.