Unicode working in PHP

Question

Can someone explain why all this code works normally if PHP is only supposed to support a 256-character set?

I know that Content-Type tag interpret these characters if is on UTF-8. But why PHP work it?

echo "匝";

if (preg_match('/啊/', "啊"))
    echo "Match";

if (preg_match('/\w/', "啊"))
    echo "Match";

Does your PHP configuration have the mbstring (multibyte string) extension enabled? — Jay Sidri
– Jay Sidri, Commented Jul 6, 2011 at 2:17
one line says ;mbstring.strict_encoding = Off i dont know if the one that you are talking about — nEAnnam
– nEAnnam, Commented Jul 6, 2011 at 2:23
Where is the reference that says PHP only supports 256 character set? Never mind, found it, php.net/manual/en/language.types.string.php — user456814
– user456814, Commented Jul 6, 2011 at 2:32
It seems that exist packages to support 256 up characters but not much info. i think. — nEAnnam
– nEAnnam, Commented Jul 6, 2011 at 2:39
@nEAnnam: The semicolon is key -- it's a comment, so your parameter is "not off". — Kerrek SB
– Kerrek SB, Commented Jul 6, 2011 at 2:50

zerkms · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-06 04:06:27Z

1

Compare your code to:

if (preg_match('/^\w$/', "啊"))
    echo "Match";

regex /\w/ works because your multibyte char contains of 2 bytes: 0x53 and 0x1D. And first one, 0x53 looks like a valid single-byte char S

PS: this is valid way to match one multibyte letter:

var_dump(preg_match('/^\p{L}$/u', "匝", $matches));

edited Jul 6, 2011 at 4:06

user456814

answered Jul 6, 2011 at 2:41

zerkms

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3 Comments

nEAnnam Over a year ago

So its not handling the character? its handle the bytes? why can be echoed? at the first sentence

zerkms Over a year ago

@nEAnnam: it handles characters, supposing each char is single byte. Cannot get all your questions... It can be echoed - because you echo it.

nEAnnam Over a year ago

lol, sorry yeah im thinking that its so useful your answer, ill compare a single byte from the char with the entire character

Jay Sidri · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-06 02:48:36Z

0

Most likely that your PCRE has been compiled with Unicode support enabled (--enable-utf8 --enable-unicode-properties) which would cause preg_match() to match unicode characters.

answered Jul 6, 2011 at 2:48

Jay Sidri

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