PHP explode: Main Tips
- PHP explode function is used to get an array of strings from a single string.
- Using
explode()in PHP is completely binary-safe. - It was introduced in PHP4 with the limit parameter, though negative limits weren't allowed until PHP 5.1.
Syntax: Parameters Explained
The correct PHP explode function syntax is displayed below:
explode(separator,string,limit);
Let's figure out what each parameter represents when using PHP explode function:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| separator | Needed. Defines the place where should PHP explode string. Cannot be an empty string! |
| string | Needed. Specifies the exact string to split. |
| limit | Optional. Defines the number of elements in an array to return after: |
| > 0 - Returns the array including a max of limit element(s) | |
| < 0 - Returns the array except for the last -limit elements() | |
| 0 - Returns an array with one element |
Usage: Code Examples
Look at the example below. It shows different outcomes that can be achieved using limit parameter with PHP explode function:
Example
<?php
$string = 'first,second,third,fourth';
// limit - zero
print_r(explode(',', $string, 0));
// limit - positive
print_r(explode(',', $string, 2));
// limit - negative
print_r(explode(',', $string, -1));
?>In this next example, comma is used as a separator. See how that turns out:
Example
<?php
$string = "This is example, with, commas!";
print_r (explode(",", $string));
?>