PHP - Find certain strings in a variable

Question

My latest issue involves trying to find "http://" in a variable. This variable contains the contents of a comments section on a clients website. I have seen all kinds of answers but none of them seem to work. I looked at a few other posts on here and I have yet to get the best answer. Here is what I have so far:

if(strpos($comments, 'http://') == true) {
  // Does stuff here
}

I noticed other people use preg_match and some said to do it in an array. I am getting confused, too many options. Just kidding. I would like some clarification though and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

In that post they did === instead of ==, I will give that a try. — Michael Garrison
– Michael Garrison, Commented Jun 6, 2012 at 19:21

Jonathan M · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-06 19:20:58Z

11

You'll need to say:

if(strpos($comments, 'http://') !== false) {

...since it can return 0 (which is falsey) if http:// is at the beginning of the string.

NOTE: This will only find the first occurrence of http:// in the string.

Take a close look at the reference: http://php.net/manual/en/function.strpos.php

answered Jun 6, 2012 at 19:20

Jonathan M

17.5k9 gold badges61 silver badges95 bronze badges

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

8 Comments

Michael Garrison Over a year ago

So >= will search the whole string?

Jonathan M Over a year ago

strpos() will search the whole string until the first occurrence of the needle is found or until end-of-string is reached.

Michael Garrison Over a year ago

Thank you very much, I'll give this a try and see how it turns out. The main thing I am trying to do is block links in the comments.

Jonathan M Over a year ago

Actually, str_ireplace() may be more what you want, then. php.net/manual/en/function.str-ireplace.php

Michael Garrison Over a year ago

Would this work even if I don't want to replace the http://? In most cases I get spam comments like "byfrgpvsipvtfok, habyqiupyh , [url=---------------.com]ceasdfasdfasdfg[/url], --------------.com habyqiupyh", I want to keep the form from submitting when it comes across the http://.

|

Nafiz Bayındır · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-06 19:29:59Z

4

You need to change code like that:

if(strpos($comments, 'http://') === false) {

//no link }

because strpos return integer which is position your string.

Example: full string: "http://stackoverflow.com hello" you finding: "http"

Naturally it return 0.

But full string: "ahttp://stackoverflow.com" you finding: "http"

it return 1.

So you must use === operator to check is really 'boolean false'.

If you try to check with == operator, you maybe get fail because it get 0 as false.

more detail: http://php.net/strpos

answered Jun 6, 2012 at 19:29

Nafiz Bayındır

4957 silver badges15 bronze badges

Comments

Spinstaz · Accepted Answer · 2021-10-15 11:35:34Z

0

I found this was a better match: (recommended by phpstorm ide)

if(str_contains($e, '1062 Duplicate entry')) {
            
}

answered Oct 15, 2021 at 11:35

Spinstaz

3477 silver badges12 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

PHP - Find certain strings in a variable

3 Answers 3

8 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

8 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related