Pattern-Matching Functions
PHP provides several standalone functions for pattern matching. When creating regular expression strings, you need to escape embedded backslashes; otherwise, the backslash is interpreted in the string before being sent to the regular expression engine.
array preg_grep (stringpattern,arrayinput)Return array containing every element of
inputmatched bypattern.int preg_match_all (stringpattern,stringsubject,arraymatches[,intflags])Search for all matches of
patternagainstsubject, and return the number of matches. The matched substrings are placed in thematchesarray. The first element ofmatchesis an array containing the text of each full match. Each additional elementnofmatchesis an array containing thenth capture group match for each full match. So, for example,matches[7][3]contains the text matches by the seventh capture group in the fourth match ofpatterninsubject.The default ordering of
matchescan be set explicitly with thePREG_SET_ORDERflag.PREG_SET_ORDERsets a more intuitive ordering, where each element ofmatchesis an array corresponding to a match. Element 0 of each array is the complete match, and each additional element corresponds to a capture group. The additional flagPREG_OFFSET_CAPTUREcauses each array element containing a string to be replaced with a two-element array containing the same string and starting character position insubject.int preg_match (stringpattern,stringsubject[,arraymatches[,intflags]])Return ...