Trimming whitespaces, tabs and newlines in php

Question

When I sanitize the input fields or text area I face a problem. When someone gave spaces and submit the form, my script accepts the form. But I want not to accept fields until there is not written at least a single character. My code is as follows.

Html

<form action="" method="POST">
    <textarea name='text'></textarea>
    <input type='submit' name='submit'>
</form>

Php

if(isset($_POST['submit'])){
    if(isset($_POST['text']) && !empty($_POST['text'])){
          //do whatever but not accept white space
    }
}

Your `!empty($_POST['text'])` should do this. I can't see this failing. Your question isn't properly written; it's actually unclear. — Funk Forty Niner, Jun 17 '17 at 12:12

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 17 '17 at 12:08

1

You can trim whatever you want, just by using

trim()

Which removes characters from both sides of a string. Documentaion: http://php.net/manual/bg/function.trim.php

answered Jun 17 '17 at 12:08

Rumen Panchev

468
11
26

If I wanted to trim multiple new lines than what I can do? – Saqlain Jun 17 '17 at 12:14
Suggest you to read this question: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2326125/remove-multiple-whitespaces – Rumen Panchev Jun 17 '17 at 12:15

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 17 '17 at 12:12

trim and preg_replace will do this easily

<?php
  echo $text = "  this is     niklesh       raut    ";
  echo "\n";
  $text = preg_replace('/\s+/', ' ',$text);
  echo trim($text);
?>

live demo : https://eval.in/818137

OUTPUT :

  this is     niklesh       raut    
this is niklesh raut

With new line and tab : https://eval.in/818138

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 17 '17 at 12:11

You can either echo out your statement:

<?php
   if(isset($_POST['submit'])){
    if(empty($_POST['text'])){
          echo "Please enter a value.";
    }
}

Or, add the required attribute to your input field.

<form action="" method="POST">
    <textarea name='text' required></textarea>
    <input type='submit' name='submit'>
</form>

Trimming whitespaces, tabs and newlines in php

3 Answers3