How do I regex just the title out?

Question

Sample text:

1. Medium Size +CA $33.00
2. Small Size -CA $4.00

I would like the result to be just 'Medium Size' or 'Small Size' using preg_match

So the regex should detect the '-' or '+' sign and just give me the text output without the prices/currency

Tried

(\S+)

(\S+\s+)

Answer 1

This regexp should extract the title between the first field (1.) and last two fields separated by spaces (+CA $33.00):

/^\S+ (.+) \S+ \S+$/

To capture all the titles at once, use preg_match_all() and m flag:

<?php

$txt = '1. Medium Size +CA $33.00
2. Small Size -CA $4.00
3. Extra-Large Size -CA $44.00';

preg_match_all('/^\S+ (.+) \S+ \S+$/m', $txt, $m);

print_r($m[1]);

Answer 2

Using php, you can make use of \K to forget what is matched so far, and then get a match only for the part before the + or - sign

^\d+\.\h+\K[^\n+-]*[^\s+-]

Explanation

• ^ Start of string
• \d+\. Match 1+ digits followed by a .
• \h+\K Match 1+ horizontal whitespace chars, and then forget what is matched so far using \K
• [^\n+-]* Match optional char other than + or - or a newline
• [^\s+-] Match at least a single non whitespace character other than + or -

Regex demo

If there should be a + or - sign present, you can assert it:

^\d+\.\h+\K[^\n+-]*[^\s+-](?=\h*[+-])

Regex demo

Or as an alternative a bit broader match starting with \S+ and capturing as few as possible characters in group 1 until the first occurrence of 1+ spaces followed by either + or -

^\S+\h+(.+?)\h+[+-]

Regex demo