How to place strings into an array through a search and then output it?

Question

$states = "Mississippi Alabama Texas Massachusetts Kansas";
$statesA = explode(' ',$states);
$statesArray = array();

foreach($statesA as $state) {
if(preg_match( '/xas$/', trim($state)))
$statesArray[0] = trim($state);
}

foreach($statesA as $state) {
if(preg_match('/^k.*s$/i', trim($state)))
$statesArray[1] = trim($state);
}

foreach($statesA as $state) {
if(preg_match('/^M.*s$/', trim($state)))
$statesArray[2] = trim($state);
}

foreach($statesA as $state) {
if(preg_match('/a$/', trim($state)))
$statesArray[3] = trim($state);
}

foreach($statesA as $state) { #PROBLEM HERE
if(preg_match('/^M/', trim($state)))
$statesArray[4] = trim($state);
}

foreach ( $statesArray as $element => $value )
print( "Element $element of the Array is $value <br />");

The task is to basically to output a word that begins with the letter M in the variable state. I have "Mississippi Alabama Texas Massachusetts Kansas" in $states. When I try to print it out, Massachusetts gets printed out rather than Mississippi. Why is that?

Well, Massachusetts is the last element to match, overwriting the previous match of Mississippi. — Ja͢ck
– Ja͢ck, Commented Mar 24, 2014 at 10:39

dkasipovic · Accepted Answer · 2014-03-24 10:45:41Z

2

<?
 foreach($statesA as $state) { #PROBLEM HERE
  if(preg_match('/^M/', trim($state)))
  $statesArray[4] = trim($state);
  }
?>

In your code above, both Massachusetts and Mississippi match your expression, and they are both stored in $statesArray[4]. If you want only the first match, maybe you should also check if $statesArray[4] is already set. So, something like this should work:

<?
  foreach($statesA as $state) { #PROBLEM HERE
    if(preg_match('/^M/', trim($state)) && !isset($statesArray[4]))
    $statesArray[4] = trim($state);
  }
?>

This would fill $statesArray[4] only if it is not already set.

Let me know if this works for you.

edited Mar 24, 2014 at 10:45

answered Mar 24, 2014 at 10:36

dkasipovic

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7 Comments

Amal Over a year ago

That wouldn't actually accomplish anything.

dkasipovic Over a year ago

Could you please clarify what you mean?

Shinji Over a year ago

That particular expression /^M.*s$/ is to search for a word that begins with M and ends with S hence, Massachusetts. It shouldn't match Mississippi since it does not end with S. The purpose for the last for each is to be able to print out the first word that begins with M which is Mississippi in this case. Is the syntax wrong? Thank you for helping!

dkasipovic Over a year ago

Oh yeah, sorry I did not have a proper look. However the solution is the same. I'll edit my answer.

Amal Over a year ago

@Shinji: Missisippi and Massachusetts both begin with M. They're both matched by your expression and one is overwritten by the other.

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