# Shrink()

Optionally, an alternative replacement can be specified.  In addition, the trimming can be disabled.

{% hint style="info" %}
Included since 📦**v1.2.0**
{% endhint %}

#### **Underlying Idea**

:bulb: This method was inspired by a *heat shrink*. As it contracts, it pushes out the air (i.e. the whitespace) around the edges and applies pressure compressing the air within.

#### **Cute Illustration**

`👻🌴🌴👻☁️👻🌳🌳🌳☁️☁️` → `🌴🌴👻🌳🌳🌳`

#### **Example**

<pre class="language-csharp"><code class="lang-csharp">// Suppose we have a string variable containing whitespace.
var myString = "··foo···bar\n";

// By default, the string is trimmed and remaining whitespace
// is replaced with a single space.
var shrunkString_Default = myString.Shrink();
// Value of 'shrunkString_Default' is "foo·bar" now.

// Alternatively, you can specify your own replacement char.
var shrunkString_CustomReplacement = myString.Shrink('-');
// Value of 'shrunkString_CustomReplacement' is "foo-bar" now.

// Additionally, trimming can be disabled.
var shrunkString_NotTrimmed = myString.Shrink('-', false);
// Value of 'shrunkString_NotTrimmed' is "-foo-bar-" now.

<strong>// In each case, the original 'myString' variable remains unchanged.
</strong></code></pre>

#### **Equivalent to**

```csharp
var shrunkString_Default = Regex.Replace(myString.Trim(), @"\s+", " ");
```


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