PHP Substring between two specific characters

Question

I have the following code which gives me exactly what I first needed (uppercase words after the first = in the string $data:

if (($pos = strpos($data, "=")) !== FALSE) { 
    $whatIWant = ucwords(substr($data, $pos+1)); 
}

What I now need to do is exactly the same thing, but ignore anything after (and including) the first & in the same string ($data).

My PHP is weak, please can someone tell me how to update the above to do this? I haven't been able to find the answer here but if I've missed it please tell me.

Sample strings:

destination=Apartment+TITLIS+Resort+Wohnung+721&hotelid=0123454656

destination=Rental+Apartment+Mendi+Eder+-+Saint-Jean&hotelid=01234

destination=Three-Bedroom+Holiday+Home+in+Olofstrom&hotelid=98

@chris85 They are URLs, I'm using urldecode($_SERVER['QUERY_STRING']) to get them. I don't know about the exploding yet I'll give that a look — Lyall
– Lyall, Commented Oct 18, 2017 at 19:21
@chris85 This is the only PHP I've ever done, there is no reason for me not using $_GET['destination'] other than not knowing about it :) if that will work then it seems straightforward — Lyall
– Lyall, Commented Oct 18, 2017 at 19:29

AbraCadaver · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-18 19:38:20Z

4

If this query string is coming from the URL that is used to access the page (as it seems from your comment that you are using $_SERVER['QUERY_STRING']) then just use the $_GET Superglobal:

echo ucwords($_GET['destination']);

If the query string is coming from somewhere else then there is a tool for that, parse_str:

parse_str($data, $result);

Your first example query string yields:

Array
(
    [destination] => Apartment TITLIS Resort Wohnung 721
    [hotelid] => 0123454656
)

So then just:

echo ucwords($result['destination']);

edited Oct 18, 2017 at 19:38

answered Oct 18, 2017 at 19:22

AbraCadaver

79.2k7 gold badges75 silver badges91 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

4 Comments

Lyall Over a year ago

Thank you - does this also do the upper case function or do I just add ucwords around the $result['destination']?

AbraCadaver Over a year ago

It does not change case, if you need title case then yes, ucwords.

Lyall Over a year ago

Thanks one more question, how do I replace the string value with the URL ($data) that I'm currently getting from urldecode?

AbraCadaver Over a year ago

@nathanhayfield: yes but that will parse the URL and give you the query string which OP already has. Then parse_str is still needed.

Himel Rana · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-18 19:44:22Z

2

Your solution here: you can check here: https://3v4l.org/ohgvE

<?php 
$data = "destination=Apartment+TITLIS+Resort+Wohnung+721&hotelid=0123454656";
if (($pos = strpos($data, "=")) !== FALSE) { 
    $whatIWant = ucwords(substr($data, $pos+1)); 
    $whatIWant = explode("&", $whatIWant); // creating array from string
    $whatIWant = $whatIWant[0]; // before & is first array element
    echo "Ans1: \n";
    echo $whatIWant;
    // Output: Apartment+TITLIS+Resort+Wohnung+721
    // if you want your output with & just add & 
    echo "\n\nAns2: \n";

    $whatIWant = $whatIWant."&";

    echo $whatIWant;
    // now Output iss: 
    // Apartment+TITLIS+Resort+Wohnung+721&
}

?>

answered Oct 18, 2017 at 19:44

Himel Rana

6665 silver badges14 bronze badges

Comments

chris85 · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-18 19:31:34Z

1

Using the $_GET superglobal is the proper way to get a GET parameter in PHP.

$_GET['destination']

will have your destination, and it will already be url decoded.

The GET variables are passed through urldecode().

answered Oct 18, 2017 at 19:31

chris85

23.9k7 gold badges37 silver badges51 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

PHP Substring between two specific characters

3 Answers 3

4 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

4 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related