Check for word within a string

[inspireddesign]

Hello all!

 

I have a simple function that sends back a response whether the word entered into the input box is allow or not.  my problem is that I want to check if the word has that single word in the string.  For example:  The user enters "A FREE weekend at Knox County Lodge"

 

I would like my function to see that the word FREE is NOT allowed and to return an error.  Again, I have this working for a single word but that's the only word I can enter in the input.  Once I hit the space bar it returns that the word is okay.  Here's the related code.  I tried making it work but obviously I'm running into problems.  The comment "this  -->>" is what I was trying to get work. Thanks for the help in advance.

 

<?php

    $message = '';
    $error = array();
    
    // we'll fake the database check, the following spam names won't be allowed.
    $bad_spams = array(
        'free',
        'tattoos',
        'get it now',
        'marketing',
        '!'
	    );

    if ($_REQUEST['action'] == 'check_spam' && isset($_SERVER['HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH'])) {
        // means it was requested via Ajax
        echo json_encode(check_spam($_REQUEST['spam']));
        exit; // only print out the json version of the response
    }
    
    function check_spam($spam) {

        global $bad_spams;
        $resp = array();

//this ->>	$spam = strpos($spam, $bad_spams);

        if (!$spam) {
          $resp = array('ok' => false, 'msg' => "Enter subject line");

//this ->>	} else if ($spam === false) {

        } else if (in_array($spam, $bad_spams)) {

            $resp = array("ok" => false, "msg" => "Word/Phrase you entered may be considered spam: $spam");

        } else {

            $resp = array("ok" => true, "msg" => "<img src=\"cmrk.jpg\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" />");

        }

        return $resp;        
    }
?>

[Bauer418]

The below code is just an example of how to do it.  I trust you can adapt it to your needs:

 

<?php
$spamList = array('word1', 'word2', 'word3');

function checkSpam( $input ) {
   global $spamList;
   foreach ( $spamList as $spamWord ) {
      if ( stripos( $check, $spamWord ) !== false ) return strtolower( $spamWord );
   }
   return false;
}

if ( $badWord = checkSpam( 'This should detect word1 spam') ) {
  print 'The following word is not allowed: ' . $badWord;
}
?>

[mikesta707]

ok if i have this right you want to check if a certain string is in a string your user submitted. we can use the stristr() function for that (which checks if a string is in a string, and returns whats after the string if it is, and false if it is not)

 

so take the following

global $bad_spams;

foreach ($bad_spams as $bad){
if (stristr($string, $bad) !== false){
//do whatever it is you want to do if the spam is found!
}

 

that should do what you want it to. hope that helped!

[inspireddesign]

Thanks a bunch for the help!  I think we are on the right track.  I've included the snippet of code you provided but it seems to hang when I get to a "bad word" in the array.  If I type "The world is FREE of bugs".  Everything checks out until I get to the word FREE and then it doesn't return the word.

 

I have a nifty json script I'm running that will supply a check mark if it returns true and once it returns false the warning msg should appear with the bad word.  I believe my syntax is wrong in below IF statement.  Can you help?

 

<?php

    function check_spam($input) {

        global $spamList;
        $resp = array();
        
        $check = strtolower( $input );

                foreach ( $spamList as $spamWord ) {
		if ( strpos( $check, strtolower( $spamWord ) ) !== false ) return strtolower( $spamWord );
	}

        if (!$input) {

            $resp = array('ok' => false, 'msg' => "Enter subject line");

        } else if ($spamWord == false) {

            $resp = array("ok" => false, "msg" => "Word/Phrase you entered may be considered spam: $spamWord");

        } else {

            $resp = array("ok" => true, "msg" => "<img src=\"cmrk.jpg\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" />");

        }

        return $resp;        
    }

?>

 

 

[.josh]

I haven't read the rest of the thread yet. Just got up to the

I would like my function to see that the word FREE is NOT allowed and to return an error.  Again, I have this working for a single word but that's the only word I can enter in the input.  Once I hit the space bar it returns that the word is okay.

 

in your OP.  trim the posted input.

[inspireddesign]

in your OP.  trim() the posted input.

 

I'm not sure I understand?  Can someone give a better explanation?  Thanks.

[.josh]

You said if you enter "FREE" it works, but if you enter "FREE " it does not.  In your code, trim it.

[inspireddesign]

I tried that and it didn't work.  It's not after the space, it's when the word is caught in the array. So if I type, FRE we are good but as soon as I type the trailing E it doesn't return the error.  It does this for any of the words or phrases in the array.  It seems to catch it but doesn't return the error.

 

<?php

    $spamList = array(
        'free',
        'tattoos',
        'get it now',
        'marketing',
        '!'

?>

 

 

<?php
   
function check_spam($input) {

        global $spamList;
        $resp = array();
    $check = strtolower( $input );

		   foreach ( $spamList as $spamWord ) {
			  if ( strpos( $check, strtolower( $spamWord ) ) !== false ) 
			  
			  return strtolower( $spamWord );
		   }
		   
        if (!$input) {

          	$resp = array('ok' => false, 'msg' => "Enter subject line");

        } else if ($spamWord == false) {

            $resp = array("ok" => false, "msg" => "Word/Phrase you entered may be considered spam: $spamWord");

        } else {

            $resp = array("ok" => true, "msg" => "<img src=\"cmrk.jpg\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" />");

        }

        return $resp;        
    }

?>

 

If you notice there's "get it now" in the array.  I don't think trim will do it... 

[RussellReal]

<?php
class SpamFilter {
	private $words;
	public function __construct($wordlist) {
		$this->words = $wordlist;
	}
	private function prep($input) {
		return trim(preg_replace(array('/[^a-z0-9 \n\.\,-]/i','/\n/','/[\,\.]/'),array('',' ',"\n"),$input));
	}
	public function spam_rating($input) {
		$input = $this->prep($input);
		$exp = explode("\n",$input);
		$length = 0;
		$count = 0;
		foreach ($exp as $line) {
			$length += substr_count(trim($line),' ') + 1;
			foreach ($this->words as $word) {
				if (stripos($line,$word) !== false) $count += substr_count(trim(str_replace(array('-','_'),' ',$word)),' ') + 1;
			}
		}
		return min(100,floor((($count * 3.5) / $length) * 100));
	}
}
$s = new SpamFilter(array('free','sign-up','sign up','amazing','unbelievable'));
echo $s->spam_rating('This unbelievable free offer is all yours, all you need to do is go to my website, sign up, and set up your mailing address to receive your AMAZING offer!').'%';
// the above echo returns 58%, each 'flag' word is worth 350% an average word.. enjoy
?>

 

I put this class together for you, just to help you out