path: root/user_guide_src/source/helpers/string_helper.rst

#############
String Helper
#############

The String Helper file contains functions that assist in working with
strings.

.. contents:: Page Contents

Loading this Helper
===================

This helper is loaded using the following code::

	$this->load->helper('string');

The following functions are available:

random_string()
===============

.. php:function:: random_string($type = 'alnum', $len = 8)

	:param	string	$type: Randomization type
	:param	int	$len: Output string length
	:returns:	string

Generates a random string based on the type and length you specify.
Useful for creating passwords or generating random hashes.

The first parameter specifies the type of string, the second parameter
specifies the length. The following choices are available:

-  **alpha**: A string with lower and uppercase letters only.
-  **alnum**: Alpha-numeric string with lower and uppercase characters.
-  **basic**: A random number based on ``mt_rand()``.
-  **numeric**: Numeric string.
-  **nozero**: Numeric string with no zeros.
-  **md5**: An encrypted random number based on ``md5()`` (fixed length of 32).
-  **sha1**: An encrypted random number based on ``sha1()`` (fixed length of 40).

Usage example::

	echo random_string('alnum', 16);

.. note:: Usage of the *unique* and *encrypt* types is DEPRECATED. They
	are just aliases for *md5* and *sha1* respectively.

increment_string()
==================

.. php:function:: increment_string($str, $separator = '_', $first = 1)

	:param	string	$str: Input string
	:param	string	$separator: Separator to append a duplicate number with
	:param	int	$first: Starting number
	:returns:	string

Increments a string by appending a number to it or increasing the
number. Useful for creating "copies" or a file or duplicating database
content which has unique titles or slugs.

Usage example::

	echo increment_string('file', '_'); // "file_1"
	echo increment_string('file', '-', 2); // "file-2"
	echo increment_string('file_4'); // "file_5"

alternator()
============

.. php:function:: alternator($args)

	:param	mixed	$args: A variable number of arguments
	:returns:	mixed

Allows two or more items to be alternated between, when cycling through
a loop. Example::

	for ($i = 0; $i < 10; $i++)
	{     
		echo alternator('string one', 'string two');
	}

You can add as many parameters as you want, and with each iteration of
your loop the next item will be returned.

::

	for ($i = 0; $i < 10; $i++)
	{     
		echo alternator('one', 'two', 'three', 'four', 'five');
	}

.. note:: To use multiple separate calls to this function simply call the
	function with no arguments to re-initialize.

repeater()
==========

.. php:function:: repeater($data, $num = 1)

	:param	string	$data: Input
	:param	int	$num: Number of times to repeat
	:returns:	string

Generates repeating copies of the data you submit. Example::

	$string = "\n";
	echo repeater($string, 30);

The above would generate 30 newlines.

.. note:: This function is DEPRECATED. Use the native ``str_repeat()``
	instead.

reduce_double_slashes()
=======================

.. php:function:: reduce_double_slashes($str)

	:param	string	$str: Input string
	:returns:	string

Converts double slashes in a string to a single slash, except those
found in URL protocol prefixes (e.g. http://).

Example::

	$string = "http://example.com//index.php";
	echo reduce_double_slashes($string); // results in "http://example.com/index.php"

strip_slashes()
===============

.. php:function:: strip_slashes($data)

	:param	array	$data: Input
	:returns:	array

Removes any slashes from an array of strings.

Example::
	
	$str = array(
		'question'  => 'Is your name O\'reilly?',
		'answer' => 'No, my name is O\'connor.'
	);
	
	$str = strip_slashes($str);
	
The above will return the following array::

	array(
		'question'  => "Is your name O'reilly?",
		'answer' => "No, my name is O'connor."
	);

.. note:: For historical reasons, this function will also accept
	and handle string inputs. This however makes it just an
	alias for ``stripslashes()``.

trim_slashes()
==============

.. php:function:: trim_slashes($str)

	:param	string	$str: Input string
	:returns:	string

Removes any leading/trailing slashes from a string. Example::

	$string = "/this/that/theother/";
	echo trim_slashes($string); // results in this/that/theother

.. note:: This function is DEPRECATED. Use the native ``trim()`` instead:
	|
	| trim($str, '/');

reduce_multiples()
==================

.. php:function:: reduce_multiples($str, $character = '', $trim = FALSE)

	:param	string	$str: Text to search in
	:param	string	$character: Character to reduce
	:param	bool	$trim: Whether to also trim the specified character
	:returns:	string

Reduces multiple instances of a particular character occuring directly
after each other. Example::

	$string = "Fred, Bill,, Joe, Jimmy";
	$string = reduce_multiples($string,","); //results in "Fred, Bill, Joe, Jimmy"

If the third parameter is set to TRUE it will remove occurences of the
character at the beginning and the end of the string. Example::

	$string = ",Fred, Bill,, Joe, Jimmy,";
	$string = reduce_multiples($string, ", ", TRUE); //results in "Fred, Bill, Joe, Jimmy"

quotes_to_entities()
====================

.. php:function:: quotes_to_entities($str)

	:param	string	$str: Input string
	:returns:	string

Converts single and double quotes in a string to the corresponding HTML
entities. Example::

	$string = "Joe's \"dinner\"";
	$string = quotes_to_entities($string); //results in "Joe&#39;s &quot;dinner&quot;"

strip_quotes()
==============

.. php:function:: strip_quotes($str)

	:param	string	$str: Input string
	:returns:	string

Removes single and double quotes from a string. Example::

	$string = "Joe's \"dinner\"";
	$string = strip_quotes($string); //results in "Joes dinner"