Is there an inbuilt PHP function to simply extract one regex match, in a single statement?

Question

I know that this works:

preg_match('/\d+/', '1234 Subject', $matches);
echo $matches[0]; // 1234

But I'm curious if there's a built-in function that just returns the first match, a la:

echo mysteryFunction('/\d+/', '1234 Subject'); // 1234

Without having to store the results in an array and having to then reference an array element separately?

If not, why not, is there a good reason?

Thanks

Naturally, very trivially - but I didn't want to reinvent the wheel and it must be a fairly common desire so I wondered if there was one already, and if not, why not? — Codemonkey, Jun 20 '19 at 17:07
because what you're asking for is not functionality - the functionality exists - what you want is just sugar. — I wrestled a bear once., Jun 20 '19 at 17:09
`echo preg_replace('/^.*?(\d+).*$/', '$1', '1234 Subject');` — splash58, Jun 20 '19 at 17:26

AbraCadaver · Answer 1 · 2019-06-20T18:25:33.393

2

No there isn't. But for fun (I don't propose using this), if you use a capture group ():

echo preg_split('/(\d+)/', '1234 Subject', null, PREG_SPLIT_DELIM_CAPTURE)[1];

Just like your echo $matches[0]; you will get a Notice: Undefined offset if there is no match.

edited Jun 20 '19 at 18:25

answered Jun 20 '19 at 17:35

AbraCadaver

What if [there is no match](https://3v4l.org/HXCo2)? I don't think this is a good answer. I'd use it as a comment. – Wiktor Stribiżew Jun 20 '19 at 17:48
@WiktorStribiżew: It's not supposed to be a good answer, just fun. Same as OP's `echo $matches[0];` if there is no match https://3v4l.org/sSK4V – AbraCadaver Jun 20 '19 at 17:52

1 Answers1