pre_replace not sure what the correct expression is

[eluser]bugboy[/eluser]
HI sophisty

1. sorry my mistake it should be.

Code:

$patterns[] = '/'.$tag.'(?![^<]*>)/i';
$replacements[] = '<a  href="'/'.$title_tag.'">'.$title_tag.'</a>';

this is just a snippet of code found within a foreach loop

EDIT: due to it removing elements

2. it needs too ignore

Code:

links: <a> and ignore in here</a>

images <img  />

and within them for example the src=" " and href=" "


3. im not to hot as you can see on regex so i suppose im muddling through but willing to learn

If you can see any better way then that would be great.

This isn't easy to understand and i have always found this difficult.