phptext-parsing

Parse a string and isolate two delimited numbers

How would I select two numbers from a string, using preg_match? I've used preg_match before to select only <iframe> and a # tag.

For example I need to select the two numbers in an equation:

$message = 'whats 23x347?';

And give me an output variable as such:

$first_number = 23
$seccond_number = 347

list($first_number, $second_number) = preg_split("/x/",$message);

This mostly works, however it does not remove the non-numeric text before nor after.

Solution

  • you could do it in two ways. preg_split would be easiest but preg_match also works, it's just a little more work.

    preg_split

    $equation = "23x347";
list($first_number, $second_number) = preg_split("/x/",$equation);
print_r(array('first_number' => $first_number, 'second_number' => $second_number));

    preg_split would return the two values as separate list elements.

    Array
(
    [first_number] => 23
    [second_number] => 347
)

    preg_match

    $equation = "23x347?";
list($first_number, $second_number) = preg_match("/(\d+)x(\d+).*/",$equation);
print_r($matches);

    preg_match would populate the $matches array

    Array
(
    [0] => 3x347?
    [1] => 23
    [2] => 347
)