Filter an array using explode

Question

My question is fairly simple. I have a column in my table labeled 'area' that appears like:

ma_south-coast
ma_south-caost
ma_north
ca_los-angelos
ca_los-angelos

I want to be able to select just the 'ma' ones. I am trying to do something such as:

$res_area = mysqli_query($connection,"select area from users");
        while ($row_state = mysqli_fetch_array($res_area)) {
        $state_exp = reset(explode("_", $row_state['area']));
        }

Printing $state_exp at this point would give me: mamamacaca which is good. But I want to filter so I only get the ma ones.

You need to use filter - explode will not work for you as you would hope. php.net/manual/en/function.array-filter.php It would be preferable if you did this in your SQL query using LIKE or SUBSTRING. — Jay Blanchard
– Jay Blanchard, Commented Aug 20, 2014 at 16:26
Thank you @JayBlanchard I wasn't sure if it would. I could maybe do it in the SQL query? I am imagining something like select area from users where [the current value] == [first two letters of a variable using explode] — Jbreen37
– Jbreen37, Commented Aug 20, 2014 at 16:37

Michael Wagner · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-20 16:27:26Z

2

You can extend your query with WHERE column LIKE "ma%" or check with substr($row_state['area],0,2) if the first two characters are "ma".

answered Aug 20, 2014 at 16:27

Michael Wagner

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Comments

Vivek Pratap Singh · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-20 16:28:48Z

1

You could try this:

$res_area = mysqli_query($connection,"select area from users");
        while ($row_state = mysqli_fetch_array($res_area)) {
        $state_exp = stristr(reset(explode("_", $row_state['area'])),'ma');
        }

answered Aug 20, 2014 at 16:28

Vivek Pratap Singh

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1 Comment

Jbreen37 Over a year ago

My scenario was best to filter using "like" in my sql query. However this is an interesting approach as well. I'll end up using this function sooner or later I'm sure.

Jay Blanchard · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-20 16:35:54Z

1

You're looking for the LIKE operator. The LIKE operator is used to search for a specified pattern in a column. Try this:

        SELECT * FROM tablename WHERE areaLIKE 'ma_%';

You can read more about the LIKE operator here.

edited Aug 20, 2014 at 16:35

Jay Blanchard

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answered Aug 20, 2014 at 16:29

Devarsh Desai

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1 Comment

Devarsh Desai Over a year ago

perfect! glad to hear & happy to help! :0)

Vivek Pratap Singh · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-20 17:27:38Z

-1

The optimal solution could be :-

$res_area = mysqli_query($connection,"select area from users WHERE area LIKE 'ma_*')";
        while ($row_state = mysqli_fetch_array($res_area)) {
        if(stripos(reset(explode("_", $row_state['area'])),'ma') !== FALSE)
        {
           $state_exp = reset(explode("_", $row_state['area']));
        }
      }

edited Aug 20, 2014 at 17:27

answered Aug 20, 2014 at 16:36

Vivek Pratap Singh

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3 Comments

Jbreen37 Over a year ago

I like how this is a definitive approach, as opposed to relying on PHP magic to figure out what is "like" what. Idk... the magic is working for me currently.

Vivek Pratap Singh Over a year ago

@Jbreen37 Glad i could help u!. But why the Downvote ?.wud be gr8 if it can be turn into upvote.

Vivek Pratap Singh Over a year ago

@Jbreen37 oh Sorry. Neways my badluck!

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