java - How to filter string for unwanted characters using regex? -

basically , wondering if there handy class or method filter string unwanted characters. output of method should 'cleaned' string. ie:

string dirtystring = "this contains spaces not allowed"  string result = cleaner.getcleanedstring(dirtystring);

expecting result be:

"thiscontainsspaceswhicharenotallowed"

a better example:

string reallydirty = " this*is#a*&very_dirty&string"  string result = cleaner.getcleanedstring(dirtystring);

i expect result be:

"thisisaverydirtystring"

because, let cleaner know ' ', '*', '#', '&' , '_' dirty characters. can solve using white/black list array of chars. don't want re-invent wheel.

i wondering if there such thing can 'clean' strings using regex. instead of writing myself.

addition: if think cleaning string done differently/better i'm ears of course

another addition: - not spaces, kind of character.

edited based on update:

dirtystring.replaceall("[^a-za-z0-9]","")

Aleternatvie