Display 1st Character

[Dysan]

Hi,

 

How do I display just the 1st character of a string stored inside a variable?

[PHP_PhREEEk]

$firstChar = substr($variable, 0, 1);

 

PhREEEk

[interpim]

<?php

// Get the first character of a string

$str = 'This is a test.';

$first = $str[0];

[Barand]

"[]" is deprecated in favour of "{}" when pulling a character from a string.

 

$first = $str{0};

[interpim]

ok... i pulled that snippet of code from the php manual, google is my friend LOL

[Orio]

"[]" is deprecated in favour of "{}" when pulling a character from a string.

 

$first = $str{0};

 

You got it the other way around Barand... From strings:

Characters within strings may be accessed and modified by specifying the zero-based offset of the desired character after the string using square array-brackets like $str[42] so think of a string as an array of characters.

 

    Note: They may also be accessed using braces like $str{42} for the same purpose. However, using square array-brackets is preferred because the {braces} style is deprecated as of PHP 6.

 

 

Orio.

[Barand]

I know, I just checked the online manual.

 

In my .chm version of the manual which I download

 

Characters within strings may be accessed and modified by specifying the zero-based offset of the desired character after the string in curly braces.

 

????: For backwards compatibility, you can still use array-brackets for the same purpose. However, this syntax is deprecated as of PHP 4.

 

Wish they'd make up their mind !

 

 

 

[Orio]

I guess it's time for you to update your manual.

 

Orio.

[Barand]

Your right, but it'll probably be back to curlies in PHP7

[PHP_PhREEEk]

meanwhile, substr() remains unambiguous... = D

 

PhREEEk

[Barand]

... but probably a lot slower for a single character

[PHP_PhREEEk]

For most script projects posted back here, the term 'negligible' comes to mind when speaking in terms of 'slower'! heh

 

Interesting discussion, nonetheless... and PHP Devs do tend to have a certain sense of humor regarding a few things.

 

PhREEEk

[emehrkay]

I prefer the curly braces as I, and many others, associate brackets with arrays