PHP String Splitting: Explode by Multiple Spaces or Tabs Easily

How can I explode a string by one or more spaces or tabs?

To explode a string by one or more spaces or tabs in PHP, you can use preg_split() instead of explode(). The preg_split() function allows for splitting strings using regular expressions, making it perfect for handling multiple spaces or tabs as delimiters.

Example Code

Here’s how you can achieve it:

<?php
// Input string with multiple spaces and tabs
$input = "This is\tan example string";

// Use preg_split with a regex for spaces and tabs
$result = preg_split('/[\s]+/', $input);

// Output the result
print_r($result);
?>

Explanation:

1. preg_split(): This function splits a string based on a pattern (regular expression).
2.  Regular Expression /[\s]+/:
• \s matches any whitespace character, including spaces, tabs, and newlines.
• [ ]+ ensures one or more consecutive whitespace characters are treated as a single delimiter.
3. Result: The string is split into an array based on spaces or tabs, regardless of their count.

Output for the Example
If the input is "This is\tan example string", the output would be:

Array
(
[0] => This
[1] => is
[2] => an
[3] => example
[4] => string
)

This method ensures flexibility in handling strings with inconsistent spaces or tabs.