Java how to replace 2 or more spaces with single space in string and delete leading and trailing spaces

Java String Manipulation: Replacing Multiple Spaces with a Single Space and Removing Leading/Trailing Spaces

Are you tired of dealing with strings that have multiple spaces and unnecessary leading/trailing spaces? Look no further! In this blog post, we'll walk you through an easy and concise solution to this common Java problem.

The Problem

Consider the following string:

"  hello     there   "

We want to transform this string into something like this:

"hello there"

While the existing solution using replaceAll() seems promising, it falls short of our expectations. It replaces all the multiple spaces with a single space, but the leading spaces still remain intact. We need a solution that removes them too.

The Solution

To achieve the desired result, we can use a combination of Java's built-in methods: trim() and replaceAll(). Let's break down the steps:

1. Start by declaring your string variable:

String myText = "  hello     there   ";

1. Remove the leading and trailing spaces using the trim() method:

myText = myText.trim();

Now, our string looks like this: "hello there".

1. Replace multiple spaces with a single space:

myText = myText.replaceAll("\\s+", " ");

With this line of code, multiple spaces within the string are replaced with a single space. Now, our string becomes: "hello there".

Putting it All Together

Here's the complete code snippet:

String myText = "  hello     there   ";
myText = myText.trim();
myText = myText.replaceAll("\\s+", " ");

And voila! You have successfully replaced multiple spaces with a single space and removed the leading/trailing spaces in your Java string!

Take It Further

Now that you have conquered this string manipulation challenge, why not explore and solve other Java programming problems? Check out our blog for more helpful Java tutorials, tips, and tricks!

Don't forget to share this post with your fellow Java enthusiasts and spread the knowledge!

Happy coding! 👩‍💻👨‍💻🚀

References

• Java String

• Java Regular Expressions

Note: If you have any further questions or need additional clarification, feel free to leave a comment below.