PHP detect if string starts with Alpha or Numeric

Question

I am sorting out data from my database using PHP and needed to know if the string(varchar) value starts with a letter or a number, so i am writing a function to check this.

Below is my code, I got the first letter of the string and now my next step is to identify if its a Letter or a number,can PHP achieve this? any suggestions would be great thanks!

function StartWith($str) {

     return  $str[0];

}

echo StartWith('AdamSavior');

You can use is_numeric function http://php.net/manual/en/function.is-numeric.php — Priyank, Aug 23 '17 at 06:04
How about determining what letter it's already in database. It would be more efficient. — Tomasz Ferfecki, Aug 23 '17 at 06:05

RomanPerekhrest · Answer 1 · 2017-08-23T06:14:23.780

4

The proper way using ctype_alpha and ctype_digit functions:

function startWith($str) {
    $c = $str[0];
    if (ctype_alpha($c)){
        return 'alpha';
    } else if (ctype_digit($c)){
        return 'numeric';
    } else {
        return 'other';
    }
}

echo startWith('AdamSavior') . PHP_EOL;
echo startWith('33man') . PHP_EOL;
echo startWith('---way') . PHP_EOL;

The output (consequtively):

alpha
numeric
other

edited Aug 23 '17 at 06:14

answered Aug 23 '17 at 06:11

RomanPerekhrest

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Wow thanks the `other` was a bonus i was also thinking of getting if it start with a special character. – KaoriYui Aug 23 '17 at 06:13
@KaoriYui, you're welcome – RomanPerekhrest Aug 23 '17 at 06:16

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 23 '17 at 06:05

2

To be more simple:

function StartWith($str)
{
    return is_numeric($str[0]) ? 'Number' : 'Letter';
}

echo StartWith('AdamSavior');

Since your task is in database, would be good if it is done with query

answered Aug 23 '17 at 06:05

Thamilhan

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 23 '17 at 06:07

0

You can use is_numeric() function. Have a look at this link

How can I check if a char is a letter or a number?

answered Aug 23 '17 at 06:07

Siddharth Chaudhery

196
7

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 23 '17 at 06:10

0

<?php

function StartWith($str)
{
    if(is_numeric($str[0])) {
        return "Number";

    }else{
        return "Letter";
    }
}
echo StartWith('adamSavior');

Good luck!

answered Aug 23 '17 at 06:10

Mr Pro Pop

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PHP detect if string starts with Alpha or Numeric

4 Answers4