Why does replaceAll remove the numbers from the String?

Question

``` String foo = "a3#4#b"; String afterPunctutationRemoval = foo.replaceAll("[,.;:?!'-_"/()\{}]", ""); System.out.println(afterPunctutationRemoval); ``` it gives me "a##b" as a result, can someone explain me why? Shouldn't it return the string as it is?

Accepted Answer

Your character class contains the range `'`..`_` which matches digits as well.

Put the `-` at the start or end of the character class:

```
foo.replaceAll("[,.;:?!'_"/()\{}-]", "")
```

or escape it:

```
foo.replaceAll("[,.;:?!'\-_"/()\{}]", "");
```

Why does replaceAll remove the numbers from the String?

Solution

Problem