Converting backslashes into forward slashes using javascript does not work properly?

javascript backslash slash
Junior Mayhé picture Junior Mayhé · Jun 20, 2011 · Viewed 24k times · Source

I have a javascript variable comming from legacy system with backslashes into forward slashes:

'/46\465531_Thumbnail.jpg'

and I am trying to convert into this:

'/46/465531_Thumbnail.jpg'.

There is no way to fix the problem on the legacy system.

Here is the command I am running on IE8 browser:

javascript:alert("/46\465531_Thumbnail.jpg".replace(/\\/g,"/"));

as response I get:

---------------------------
Message from webpage
---------------------------
/46&5531_Thumbnail.jpg
---------------------------
OK   
---------------------------

actually I just want to be translated as '/46/465531_Thumbnail.jpg'

What is wrong?

Answer

Pointy picture Pointy · Jun 20, 2011

You need to double the backslash in your string constant:

alert("/46\\465531_Thumbnail.jpg".replace(/\\/g,"/"));

If your legacy system is actually creating JavaScript string constants on your pages with embedded, un-quoted (that is, not doubled) backslashes like that, then it's broken and you'll have problems. However, if you're getting the strings via some sort of ajax call in XML or JSON or whatever, then your code looks OK.

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