regex - How to substitue a pattern with a whole array using sed? -

i have array, looks this:

snakes=(python boa cornsnake milksnake)

i wondering if it's possible substitute pattern whole array using sed. thinking this:

sed -i "s/snakes like/& $(echo ${snakes[@]})/g" snakes.txt

and have output here separated , :

snakes python, boa, cornsnake, milksnake

any ideas or suggestions appreciated.

you expanding array correctly.

suppose want edit file called languages (snakes gross):

$ cat languages languages like.

and array this:

$ langs=(python perl ruby lua)

you have to

set ifs=, (internal field separator)
convert elements of array single string ${langs[*]}
prepend space before each 1 of them replacing beginning of each string (# in bash, ^ in regex) space

the final command one:

$ ifs=, ; sed -i "s|languages like|&${langs[*]/#/ }|" languages

(i used | in sed command clarity, / fine too, since shell converting ${langs[*]/#/ } final string before passing sed)

the languages file looks this:

i languages python, perl, ruby, lua.

Deter