Javascript: How to convert userinput *string* to *regex* for use in replace

[Phil]

I wonder how one converts a string into a real regex...

if I try something like:

var sRegex=userinput.value
var sResult = sSomestring.replace(sRegex, "xxx");

the sRegex is interpreted as a string and not as a real /regex/

How can I change this so the user can enter a regex and have it interpreted?

I guess this requires some kind of cast but to what kind of objectype?

 

[Jim Ley]

I wonder how one converts a string into a real regex...

if I try something like:

var sRegex=userinput.value
var sResult = sSomestring.replace(sRegex, "xxx");

the sRegex is interpreted as a string and not as a real /regex/

new RegExp(sRegex)

Jim.

 

[Martin Honnen]

I wonder how one converts a string into a real regex...

if I try something like:

var sRegex=userinput.value

var rexExp = new RegExp(userinput.value)