The quotemeta() function is an inbuilt function in PHP which accepts a string as an argument and returns a string which has backslashes added in front of some predefined characters in a string.
The predefined characters are:
- period (.)
- backslash (\)
- plus sign (+)
- asterisk (*)
- question mark (?)
- brackets ([])
- caret (^)
- dollar sign ($)
- parenthesis (())
Syntax:
quotemeta($string)
Parameter: This function accepts only one parameter $string which is mandatory. This parameter specifies the string in which we want to add backslashes in front of the above mentioned predefined characters.
Return Value: It returns a string by adding backslashes in front of the predefined characters in the $string argument.
Examples:
Input: $str = "geek$ for neveropen?" Output: geek\$ for neveropen\? Input: $str = "+geek* for neveropen." Output: \+geek\* for neveropen\.
Below programs illustrate the quotemeta() function in PHP:
Program 1: When string has ‘?’ and ‘$’ predefined characters
<?php // PHP program to demonstrate the // working of quotemeta() function   $str = "geek$ for neveropen?";   // prints the string by adding backslashes // in front of the predefined characters // '$' and '?' echo(quotemeta($str)); ?> |
Output:
geek\$ for neveropen\?
Program 2: When string has ‘*’, ‘.’ and ‘+’ predefined characters
<?php // PHP program to demonstrate the // working of quotemeta() function   $str = "+geek* for neveropen.";   // prints the string by adding backslashes // in front of the predefined characters echo(quotemeta($str)); ?> |
Output:
\+geek\* for neveropen\.
Program 3: When string has brackets and parenthesis as predefined characters.
<?php // PHP program to demonstrate the // working of quotemeta() function   $str = "[]geek for neveropen()";   // prints the string by adding backslashes // in front of the predefined characters // brackets and parenthesis echo(quotemeta($str)); ?> |
Output:
\[\]geek for neveropen\(\)
Program 4: When string has caret (^) as predefined character.
<?php // PHP program to demonstrate the // working of quotemeta() function   $str = "2 ^ 2 = 4";   // prints the string by adding backslashes // in front of the predefined characters // caret (^) echo(quotemeta($str)); ?> |
Output:
2 \^ 2 = 4
