PHP Find Variable in String

Since I always try to remember what this code is, and I can never remember, I thought I’d add it to my blog so I never forget. 🙂

This searches a string of text and finds a user defined variable. Very handy.

$string = "PHP";
$container = "I love writing PHP code.";

if(strstr($container,$string)) {
echo "found it.";
} else {
echo "not found.";
}

26 Comments

  1. Here’s another way to get the same result:

    $string = “PHP”;
    $container = “I love writing PHP code.”;

    echo (strstr($container,$string)?”found it.”:”not found.”);

    Reply

  2. Hi,

    I have used the original method since it allows me to execute certain code based upon found or not found criteria. This article was very helpfull to me.

    Thanks

    Reply

  5. yeah, I don’t know why PHP net always has the complicated jibba jabba when dummies like myself use that site as well. I searched high and low for about ten minutes just now until you solved my problem in laymens terms. Thanks!

    Reply

  9. $haystack=”Hi jane, you look great.”;
    $needle=”jaNe”;

    if (stristr($haystack,$needle)){
    print “Yup! i found it.”;
    }
    else{
    print “Nope, i don’t see it.”;
    }

    Reply

  12. You, are, Legend.

    Exactly the last piece to my puzzle!

    Was struggling to write a “if .co.uk is in string then..” statement.

    Reply

  13. it’s cool but it can result only one.
    what can i do to get all find results.
    for example in
    “hello. i am a php developer. i am darklord”
    when i serach
    “i am”
    there are 2 in this paragraph.

    Reply

  18. Just wanted to say thanks for posting this. I always forget the easiest way to do this and have come across your site every time I look for the solution. You’ve helped me many times.

    -AJay

    Reply

  23. ok, is there a way to search in string for several item previously collected in a array

    for example

    stristr($haystack,$array_needle)

    Reply

  24. How to implement with regular expreccion?, example error:

    $page = //This is te html content with url to $string
    $string = “/^http:\/\/bloat.me\/(.{4})/”;

    if(strstr($page,$string)) {
    echo “found it.”;
    } else {
    echo “not found.”;
    }

    tanks

    Reply

  25. You should note that your code returns 0 (ie. the equivalent to false) if the needle is found in the very beginning of the haystack (position 0). To prevent this, use strict comparison:

    if(strstr($container,$string) === false) {
    echo “found it.”;
    } else {
    echo “not found.”;
    }

    Reply

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