[SOLVED] Add http:// if its not there

[greenday]

Hi, when i output a web address from a DB entry, it could have been entered as just www.domain.com, or http://www.domain.com. I am trying to find a way where I can check if the http:// exists, and if not add it to the begining.

 

Having tried various ways, I cant get it to work -any help please?

 

Here is my code before I have tried any ways to get it to work:

 

Web: <a href="<?php echo $row_clubinfo['clubweb']; ?>" target="_blank"><?php echo $row_clubinfo['clubweb'] = str_replace('http://', '', $row_clubinfo['clubweb']); ?></a>

 

You will see from the code I am removing the http:// from the visible text, but need to add it to the href link.

 

Thanks!

[Ken2k7]

Try this method: (suggest you define it as a function and just call it. Obviously if you do, use return and not echo)

 

<?php
if (preg_match("/http:\/\//i", $row_clubinfo['clubweb'])
echo $row_clubinfo['clubweb'];
else echo "http://".$row_clubinfo['clubweb'];
?>

[trq]

preg_match is pretty expensive when its really not required.

 

<?php echo (substr($row_clubinfo['clubweb'],0,6) == 'http://') ? $row_clubinfo['clubweb'] : 'http://' . $row_clubinfo['clubweb']; ?>

[Ken2k7]

What does "expensive" mean in this case? ???

[drummer101]

<?php
if(substr($string,0,7) != "http://"){
echo "http://" . $string;
} else {
echo $string;
}
?>

[trq]

What does "expensive" mean in this case?

 

preg_match is known to be a fair bit slower than substr, and seeing as where looking for a fixed string, there really is no need to use a tool like regex which is designed to find patterns.

[greenday]

awesome - thanks so much guys for the quick responses - case solved!