comment on

The normal answer would be use HTML::TokeParser if you want a reliable solution to parse HTML. For this *particular* task a well constructed regex should suffice. This will strip all the <b> </b> tags that are empty. I believe it covers all bases.

$text = join '', <DATA>;
print $text;
$text =~ s#<\s*b\s*>(?:[\s\n]|&nbsp;)*<\s*/\s*b\s*>##ig;
print $text;

__DATA__
<p>test
<p>test<b></b>
<p>test<b
>&nbsp;  
</b>
<p>test<b>  </b>
<p>test<b 
></b >
<p>test<B></B>
<p>test<B>

</B>
<p>test<B ></B>
<p>test<B
>  </B >
<p>test<B>  &nbsp;  &nbsp; </B>
<p><b>I am not empty!</b>
[download]

In reply to Re: how-to strip empty HTML tags like b /b by tachyon
in thread how-to strip empty HTML tags like <b> </b> by russmann

Are you posting in the right place? Check out Where do I post X? to know for sure.
Posts may use any of the Perl Monks Approved HTML tags. Currently these include the following:
<code> <a> <b> <big> <blockquote> <br /> <dd> <dl> <dt> <em> <font> <h1> <h2> <h3> <h4> <h5> <h6> <hr /> <i> <li> <nbsp> <ol> <p> <small> <strike> <strong> <sub> <sup> <table> <td> <th> <tr> <tt> <u> <ul>
Snippets of code should be wrapped in <code> tags not <pre> tags. In fact, <pre> tags should generally be avoided. If they must be used, extreme care should be taken to ensure that their contents do not have long lines (<70 chars), in order to prevent horizontal scrolling (and possible janitor intervention).
Want more info? How to link or How to display code and escape characters are good places to start.


Pathologically Eclectic Rubbish Lister
	PerlMonks