PHP replace certain number of characters in string

Question

I have the current code where I'm trying to mask part of user's email with ***

$user_email                         = [email protected]

$unmasked_user_email_array          = explode('@', $user_email);
$unmasked_user_email_string         = $unmasked_user_email[0];
$unmasked_user_email_string_length  = strlen($unmasked_user_email_string);

if ($unmasked_user_email_string_length > 4) {
    replace the last three characters of $unmasked_user_email_string with ***
}   
else if ($unmasked_user_email_string_length < 5) {
    replace the last two characters of $unmasked_user_email_string with **
}
else if ($unmasked_user_email_string_length < 4) {
    replace the last one character of $unmasked_user_email_string with *
}

My question is, what methods or functions should I use to be able to accomplish what I'm trying to do?

Thanks

Fault in your code: $unmasked_user_email_string = $unmasked_user_email[0]; should be $unmasked_user_email_string = $unmasked_user_email_array[0]; — Ole Haugset
– Ole Haugset, Commented Oct 7, 2014 at 7:16

Ole Haugset · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-07 07:26:34Z

This will do the trick for you. Using php native function substr() to remove the last couple of characters. Then we rebuild the email address after appending some stars for hidden elements. Also, your $unmasked_user_email[0] should be $unmaskd_user_email_array[0]:

$user_email                         = "[email protected]"

$unmasked_user_email_array          = explode('@', $user_email);
$unmasked_user_email_string         = $unmasked_user_email_array[0];
$unmasked_user_email_string_length  = strlen($unmasked_user_email_string);

if ($unmasked_user_email_string_length > 4) {
    $email = substr( $unmasked_user_email_string, 0, -4 ) . '****' . $unmasked_user_email_array[1];
}   
else if ($unmasked_user_email_string_length < 5) {
    $email = substr( $unmasked_user_email_string, 0, -2 ) . '**' . $unmasked_user_email_array[1];
}
else if ($unmasked_user_email_string_length < 4) {
    $email = substr( $unmasked_user_email_string, 0, -1 ) . '*' . $unmasked_user_email_array[1];
}

Php substr() manual: http://php.net/manual/en/function.substr.php

Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 19:52:31Z

1

Use the substr method of php.

Syntax : substr($string,$start,$length);

and substr($string,$start); to get the entire string after the "$start" position(staring from 0)

See : https://www.php.net/substr

So,

if ($unmasked_user_email_string_length > 4) {

$unmasked_user_email_string with = substr($unmasked_user_email_string,0,strlen($unmasked_user_email_string)-3);
//[email protected] => abc@xyz.***

}   

else if ($unmasked_user_email_string_length < 5) {
//do it yourself

}

else if ($unmasked_user_email_string_length < 4) {
//do it yourself

}

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 19:52

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Oct 7, 2014 at 7:19

Deval Khandelwal

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Comments

ôkio · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-07 07:17:20Z

0

You can use substr (php.net/substr) to cut the end of the string, and then concatenate how many * you want. For example :

$user_email_hidden = substr($unmasked_user_email_string, 0, $unmasked_user_email_string_length-4) . '****'

answered Oct 7, 2014 at 7:17

ôkio

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1 Comment

Deval Khandelwal Over a year ago

He said last 3 not last 4

Josua M C · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-07 07:38:01Z

<?php
$user_email                         = "[email protected]";

$unmasked_user_email_array          = explode("@", $user_email);
$unmasked_user_email_string         = $unmasked_user_email_array[0];
$unmasked_user_email_string_length  = strlen($unmasked_user_email_string);

if ($unmasked_user_email_string_length > 4) {
    // replace the last three characters of $unmasked_user_email_string with ***
    $unmasked_user_email_string = substr($unmasked_user_email_string, 0, -3) . '***'; 
}   
else if ($unmasked_user_email_string_length == 5) {
    // replace the last two characters of $unmasked_user_email_string with **
    $unmasked_user_email_string = substr($unmasked_user_email_string, 0, -2) . '**'; 
}
else if (($unmasked_user_email_string_length < 4) && ($unmasked_user_email_string_length >= 2)) {
    // replace the last one character of $unmasked_user_email_string with *
    $unmasked_user_email_string = substr($unmasked_user_email_string, 0, -1) . '*'; 
}
else {
    // replace the last one character of $unmasked_user_email_string with *
    $unmasked_user_email_string = substr($unmasked_user_email_string, 0, -1) . '*****'; 
}
echo $unmasked_user_email_string;

?>

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