How Can I Limit str_replace() to Only Replace the First Match?

Limiting str_replace() to the First Match

The venerable str_replace() function empowers developers to effortlessly swap substrings within a string. However, it lacks a crucial feature: the ability to restrict its operation to only the first match.

To address this limitation, let's delve into a simple yet elegant solution that allows you to target the initial occurrence of a specific substring:

$pos = strpos($subject, $search);
if ($pos !== false) {
    $newString = substr_replace($subject, $replace, $pos, strlen($search));
}

This approach leverages the power of strpos() to locate the position of the first match, after which, substr_replace() steps in to perform the replacement operation precisely at that location.

The simplicity of this solution belies its exceptional efficacy. Not only is it devoid of any hacky workarounds, but it also excels in performance, avoiding the computational overhead associated with regular expressions.

Additionally, the code includes a bonus: by simply substituting strrpos() for strpos(), you can effortlessly target the final occurrence of the substring instead.

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