postgresql - replace all instances of a string within text field

Question

In postgresql, how do I replace all instances of a string within a database column?

Say I want to replace all instances of cat with dog, for example.

What's the best way to do this?

Answer 1

You want to use postgresql's replace function:

replace(string text, from text, to text)

for instance :

UPDATE <table> SET <field> = replace(<field>, 'cat', 'dog')

Be aware, though, that this will be a string-to-string replacement, so 'category' will become 'dogegory'. the regexp_replace function may help you define a stricter match pattern for what you want to replace.