PHP - Matching words in dynamic arrays

Question

I've taken a look around but cant seem to find anything that does as needed.

Lets say I have 2 arrays in a function, however they are completely dynamic. So each time this function is run, the arrays are created based on a page that has been submitted.

I need to some how match these arrays and look for any phrase/words that appear in both.

Example: (with only a single element in each array)

    Array 1: "This is some sample text that will display on the web"
    Array 2: "You could always use some sample text for testing"

So in that example, the 2 arrays have a phrase that appears exactly the same in each: "Sample Text"

So seeing as these arrays are always dynamic I am unable to do anything like Regex because I will never know what words will be in the arrays.

Ja͢ck · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-27 09:26:49Z

4

You could find all words in an array of strings like this:

function find_words(array $arr)
{
        return array_reduce($arr, function(&$result, $item) {
                if (($words = str_word_count($item, 1))) {
                        return array_merge($result, $words);
                }
        }, array());
}

To use it, you run the end results through array_intersect:

$a = array('This is some sample text that', 'will display on the web');
$b = array('You could always use some sample text for testing');

$similar = array_intersect(find_words($a), find_words($b));
// ["some", "sample", "text"]

edited May 27, 2013 at 9:26

answered May 27, 2013 at 9:16

Ja͢ck

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1 Comment

JPDP Over a year ago

Jack, this seems to have done the trick. Thank you, I didn't realize array_intersect worked like this.

Borniet · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-27 09:14:16Z

1

Array_intersect() should do this for you:

http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.array-intersect.php

*array_intersect() returns an array containing all the values of array1 that are present in all the arguments. Note that keys are preserved.*

answered May 27, 2013 at 9:14

Borniet

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1 Comment

steven Over a year ago

Maybe this could be an argumentation: Two elements are considered equal if and only if (string) $elem1 === (string) $elem2. In words: when the string representation is the same.

steven · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-27 09:12:55Z

0

maybe something like this:

foreach($arr as $v) {
   $pos = strpos($v, "sample text");
   if($pos !== false) {
        // success
   }

}

here is the manual: http://de3.php.net/manual/de/function.strpos.php

answered May 27, 2013 at 9:12

steven

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2 Comments

JPDP Over a year ago

Hi Steven, this would work however the array is dynamic so I would never know what words I am trying to match.

steven Over a year ago

but you will be able to use another variable for argument 2 of strpos

Christopher Costa · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-27 09:20:34Z

0

Explode the two strings by spaces, and it is a simple case of comparing arrays.

answered May 27, 2013 at 9:20

Christopher Costa

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