php - Is there a way to move/reset the search pointer in preg_match_all()? -

take following example,

preg_match_all("/(^|-)[a-z]+(-|$)/i", "foo-bar-moo", $matches); 

this (correctly) returns following matches,

foo- -moo 

however, need generate following matches output,

foo- -bar- -moo 

is there way this? example moving search pointer 1 character after match?

my other idea put in while() loop, removing matches on each loop, until matches found.

thanks.

edit: tried simplify issue make question clearer, in doing seem have misrepresented issue was. apologies.

basically needed way match word in string character preceding or character following character, @ same time without capturing these leading , trailing characters in match.

i under impression couldn't this, instead decided capture leading/trailing characters , remove them myself. led me issue above.

as tim pietzcker pointed out, needed lookarounds.

so example above, solution follows,

preg_match_all('/(?<=^|-)[a-z]+(?=-|$)/', "foo-bar-moo", $result); 

and outputs,

foo bar moo 

thanks again answers , help.

use lookaround , put capturing groups in lookaround expressions. allows in single preg_match_all() call , still capture -es if present:

preg_match_all('/(?<=(^|-))([a-z]+)(?=(-|$))/', $subject, $result, preg_set_order); ($match = 0; $match < count($result); $match++) {     echo $result[$match][1] . $result[$match][2] . $result[$match][3]; }