const regex = /(^|[^a-zA-Z0-9.])left/gi;
// Alternative syntax using RegExp constructor
// const regex = new RegExp('(^|[^a-zA-Z0-9.])left', 'gi')
const str = `left.position.left = leftContent.left.posleft`;
const subst = `$1a`;
// The substituted value will be contained in the result variable
const result = str.replace(regex, subst);
console.log('Substitution result: ', result);
Please keep in mind that these code samples are automatically generated and are not guaranteed to work. If you find any syntax errors, feel free to submit a bug report. For a full regex reference for JavaScript, please visit: https://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Web/JavaScript/Guide/Regular_Expressions