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Implode() in PHP: PHP Implode() Function [With Syntax & Parameters]

Implode() in PHP: PHP Implode() Function [With Syntax & Parameters]

Updated on 15 November, 2022

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• 8 min read

Table of Contents

What is Implode in PHP?
What is PHP?
Implode in PHP: Syntax and parameters
What is the PHP explode function?
Parameters in the PHP explode function
Conclusion

Implode in PHP is a vital function of PHP for one to learn if they aim to be a future developer or look for a career change into website development. The implode() function in PHP is a predefined, built-in, binary-safe function in PHP used for joining array elements with a string. Implode() is also known as PHP | join() function and it works similar to that of the join() function.

In this piece, we will further touch upon topics of Implode in PHP like parameters of Implode in PHP and its examples to deepen your knowledge about the topic.

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So, to begin with, let’s first understand what exactly implode in PHP is.

What is Implode in PHP?

The implode() function in PHP is called “array to a string,” as it takes an array of elements and returns a string. For example, if we want to join an array of elements to form one string, we can use the implode() function to perform the same. Similar to the join() function, implode() function in PHP will also return a string formed from all the components of an array utilizing a delimiter of our choice, which may be put in a variable.

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What is PHP?

Before we go ahead to learn about the implode() function in PHP, we need to know what PHP is and what it is used for. PHP is a widely-used, general-purpose, open-source scripting language that is used for web development. Earlier, PHP stood for ‘Personal Home Page’; however, it is now called PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor. PHP runs on almost all platforms, including Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac OS X, among others.

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It is also compatible with nearly all servers used today, including Apache, IIS, among others. Its ease of learning and efficient working on the server-side is one reason why it is used so widely. It is also free to download, and a user can get it from the official PHP resource site, which is www.php.net.

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Implode in PHP: Syntax and parameters

Syntax

Syntax (implode(separator, array)) is a set of rules, processes, or principles that govern the structure of sentences in a language, including the word order. And, in Implode in PHP, two syntaxes are used—here’s the ways function can be invoked in:

The implode (string $glue, array $pieces): In this, the glue is used to combine the array components.
The implode (array $pieces): Alternatively, in this, no glue is used—this is to make sure the pieces will be concatenated together.

Parameters

The implode() function accepts two parameters. And, out of which, one parameter is optional, and the other is mandatory. These are the two parameters, and here’s their description:

The first parameter is ‘separator’

The separator is the optional parameter, and it is there to specify what is needed to be put between the array components. By default, it appears as ”, “ which denotes an empty string. The array values are joined to form a string and are separated by the separator parameter.

The second parameter is ‘array’

The array is the required parameter whose values are joined to form a string.

TIP: Although in implode(), the separator parameter is optional, it is highly recommended to use both the parameters always for backward compatibility.

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Examples of Implode in PHP

Here’s an example of separating the array elements with different characters:

Input:

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html>

<body>

<?php

$arr = array(‘Hi’,’there!’,’How’,’are’,’you’);

echo implode(” “,$arr).”<br>”;

echo implode(“+”,$arr).”<br>”;

echo implode(“-“,$arr).”<br>”; 

echo implode(“X”,$arr);

?>

</body>

</html>

In the first expression, we have used a comma as a separator to obtain a string, whereas, in the second expression, we have used ‘space’ as a separator to demonstrate the implode function

Output:

Hi there! How are you

Hi+there!+How+are+you

Hi-there!-How-are-you

HiXthere!XHowXareXyou

Here’s an example of joining array elements with a string:

Input:

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html>

<body>

<?php

$arr = array(‘Have’,’a’,’nice’,’day!’);

echo implode(” “,$arr);

?>

</body>

</html>

Output:

Have a nice day!

Example of converting PHP Arrays to Strings

Input

$ar = [‘Sunday’, ‘Monday’, ‘Tuesday’, ‘Wednesday’];

echo implode(‘, ‘, $ar);

Output

// Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Example of converting an Array of Arrays to String

Input

$School = [

    ‘Primary’ => [‘Class I’, ‘Class II’, ‘Class III’, ‘Class IV’],

    ‘Middle’ => [‘Class V’, ‘Class VI’, ‘Class VII’, ‘Class VIII’],

    ‘Secondary’ => [‘Class IX’, ‘Class X’, ‘Class XI’, ‘Class XII’]

];

echo implode(‘, ‘, $School);

// Array, Array, Array

Output:

// Class I, Class II, Class III, Class IV, Class V, Class VI, Class VII, Class VIII, Class IX, Class X, Class XI, Class XII

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What is the PHP explode function?

The opposite of PHP implode() function is PHP explode(). It is an in-built function in PHP that can split a string into various strings based on a string’s delimiter. The PHP implode() function splits the string wherever the delimiter character occurs, and it returns an array that contains the strings that exist after splitting the initial string.

Parameters in the PHP explode function

Unlike PHP Implode, the PHP explode function has three parameters. Out of which one is optional, whereas the other two are compulsory. Here is a brief description of the 3 parameters in PHP explode function:

The first parameter is the separator

A separator is a character that specifies a critical point or points where the string will divide. Whenever a separator is found in the code, it represents the end of the current element of the array and the beginning of the new element.

The second parameter is Original String

The Original String is the input string, which will be divided into arrays by this method.

The third parameter is No of Elements

The No of Elements parameter is an optional parameter and is used for detailing the number of characters of the array. The No of Elements parameter can be any integer, which means it can be positive, negative, or even zero.

Example

Input:

<?php

    // original string

    $OriginalString = “Hi there, I hope you are well!”;

    // Without optional parameter NoOfElements

    print_r(explode(” “,$OriginalString));

    // with positive NoOfElements

    print_r(explode(” “,$OriginalString,3));

    // with negative NoOfElements

    print_r(explode(” “,$OriginalString,-1));

?>

Output:

Array

(

    [0] => Hi

    [1] => there,

    [2] => I

    [3] => hope

    [4] => you 

    [5] => are

    [6] => well!

)

Array

(

    [0] => Hi there,

    [1] => I

    [2] => hope you are well!

)

Array

(

    [0] => Hi

    [1] => there,

    [2] => I

    [3] => hope 

    [4] => you 

)

Conclusion

PHP as a programming language evolved in 1994 and, since then, has been evolving very fast. As of September 2020, nearly two out of every three websites using PHP are still on old PHP versions—that have been discontinued, and almost half of all the PHP websites use version 5.6 or older.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is PHP better than JavaScript?

JavaScript is a computer language that is interpreted. It's a tool for making interactive websites. Server-side programming, mobile development, and gaming all use it. The accessibility of your website can be improved using JavaScript. to make pages that are lighter and load faster, PHP is a popular web development language for a variety of reasons. Its ease of use, flexibility and a vast range of features are only a few of the key reasons. PHP is also a reasonably simple language to pick up, making it a popular choice among newcomers. Furthermore, PHP is free and open-source, which implies that anyone can use it for free. Some think that PHP is superior because it is more powerful and diverse, while others feel that JavaScript is more straightforward to learn and use. In the end, the individual must choose which language they prefer.

2. What are the benefits of learning the fundamentals of computer science?

The study of the theoretical and practical aspects of information and computation, as well as the design of computing systems, is known as computer science. It has a wide range of applications in sectors such as engineering, business, science, and medical. Learning to code can assist you in becoming a better problem solver. Coding might assist you in becoming more organised and efficient. You can become a more creative thinker by learning to code. Coding can aid in the development of strong problem-solving abilities. Coding might assist you in developing an analytical mindset.

3. What are the roles of a frontend and backend developer?

The process of creating the user interface for a website or application is known as frontend development. Everything from the layout and font to the buttons and input fields falls under this category. These interfaces are created using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript by frontend developers. Backend development is the process of improving a website's or application's functionality. Back-end systems, databases, and APIs are all part of this process. Backend developers collaborate with front-end developers to build a fully functional website or application. If you want to work as a frontend developer, you should first learn to code, then design and build user interfaces. If you’re going to work as a backend developer, you should first learn how to code then how to create web apps and services.

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