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<?php function preg_quote_replacement($str) { return addcslashes($str, '\\$'); } $text = 'Invoice: You owe me *#5* !'; $user_search = "*#5*"; $user_replace = "*$5*"; $search = preg_quote($user_search, "/"); $replace_bad1 = $user_replace; $replace_bad2 = preg_quote($user_replace); $replace_good = preg_quote_replacement($user_replace); $new_text1 = preg_replace("/$search/", $replace_bad1, $text); $new_text2 = preg_replace("/$search/", $replace_bad2, $text); $new_text3 = preg_replace("/$search/", $replace_good, $text); echo "Input: $text\nNew1: $new_text1\nNew2: $new_text2\nNew3: $new_text3\n";

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