JavaScript replace() Method: remove empty space just at the end and at the beginning of the string [duplicate]

Question

Possible Duplicate:
How do I trim a string in javascript?

By using replace method in javascript I am trying to remove the empty space between the start and the end of a string:

Here my code:

Any idea how should I achive the result?

input  -> "   first second     ".replace(/[^\s|\s$]/g, ''); // " "
output -> "first second"

Answer 1

This is called trimming.

You need parentheses instead of brackets in the regular expression, and also a multiplier on the white space specifier to match multiple spaces:

var s = "   first second     ".replace(/(^\s+|\s+$)/g, '');

Demo: http://jsfiddle.net/Guffa/N7xxt/

Answer 2

Add this at the begining of your script:

// Add ECMA262-5 string trim if not supported natively
//
if (!('trim' in String.prototype)) {
    String.prototype.trim= function() {
        return this.replace(/^\s+/, '').replace(/\s+$/, '');
    };
}

Then use yourString.trim() to remove spaces at the beginning and at the end of your string.