The function processes only the last pattern sought. What is wrong? - php

Question

/**
* Quick Links for ACF
*/
function replace_text($content) {
$quick_links = get_field('quick_links', 'option');
if($quick_links && is_singular('post')) {
foreach($quick_links as $item) {
$word = $item['word_quick_links'];
$link = $item['link_quick_links'];
$preg_replace = preg_replace('/\b'.preg_quote($word, '/').'\b/', '' . $word . '', $content, 1);
}
return $preg_replace;
} else {
return $content;
}
}
add_filter('the_content', 'replace_text', 20 );
In the preg_replace() function, the last argument is limit - the maximum possible number of replacements of each template for each subject line. By default it is equal to -1 (without restrictions).
What is my mistake, why does the function process only one last sought-for template?

Answer 1

In your inner loop which replaces the text in the content, you always start off with the original text ($content) and return a new string ($preg_replace)...
$preg_replace = preg_replace('/\b'.preg_quote($word, '/').'\b/', '' . $word . '', $content, 1);
You should instead put the result back into the original content so that the next loop will add to the replacements rather than get a new string (so put the new value back into $content)...
$content = preg_replace('/\b'.preg_quote($word, '/').'\b/',
'' . $word . '',
$content, 1);
and then return this value (you could always return $content...
return $content;