- preg_replace: documentation ( source)
<?php
$html_string = "
<div> Below are object Node with the html code </div>
<script> alert('i want this to be replaced. it has no newline'); </script>
<div> I don't want this to be replaced </div>
<script>
console.log('i also want this to be replaced. It has newline');
</script>
<div> This is a div tag and not a script, so it should not be replaced </div>
<script> console.warn(Finally, this should be replaced, it also has newline');
</script>
<div> The above is the final result of the replacements </div> ";
$regex = '/(?:\<script\>)(.*?)(?:\<\/script\>)/ims';
$result = preg_replace($regex, '<!-- THIS SCRIPT CONTENT HERE HAS BEEN ALTERED -->', $html_string);
echo $result;