include everything up to the comma

[jeff5656]

I have a variable $row['name'].

 

Sometimes the string is smith, John.

 

How do I use regex to only include up to the comma,

i.e. $newlastname = smith?

[salathe]

One way (of many) would be:

 

$newlastname = $row['name'];
if (preg_match('/^[^,]+(?=,)/', $row['name'], $match)) {
    $newlastname = $match[0];
}

 

If you're using PHP 5.3 then you could instead use strstr and even if not, basic string functions might be easier, cleaner, etc. in this case.

[.josh]

or just explode it...