# PregReplace

`Zend_Filter_PregReplace` performs a search using regular expressions and replaces all found elements.

The option match has to be given to set the pattern which will be searched for. It can be a string for a single pattern, or an array of strings for multiple pattern.

To set the pattern which will be used as replacement the option replace has to be used. It can be a string for a single pattern, or an array of strings for multiple pattern.

    $filter = new Zend_Filter_PregReplace(array('match' => '/bob/',
                                                'replace' => 'john'));
    $input  = 'Hy bob!';

    $filter->filter($input);
    // returns 'Hy john!'

You can use `getMatchPattern()` and `setMatchPattern()` to set the matching pattern afterwards. To set the replacement pattern you can use `getReplacement()` and `setReplacement()`.

    $filter = new Zend_Filter_PregReplace();
    $filter->setMatchPattern(array('bob', 'Hy'))
           ->setReplacement(array('john', 'Bye'));
    $input  = 'Hy bob!";

    $filter->filter($input);
    // returns 'Bye john!'

For a more complex usage take a look into PHP's PCRE Pattern Chapter.