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PHP quotemeta() Function

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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 geeks?"
Output: geek\$ for geeks\?

Input: $str = "+geek* for geeks."
Output: \+geek\* for geeks\.

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 geeks?";
  
// prints the string by adding backslashes 
// in front of the predefined characters
// '$' and '?'
echo(quotemeta($str));
?>


Output:

geek\$ for geeks\?

Program 2: When string has ‘*’, ‘.’ and ‘+’ predefined characters




<?php
// PHP program to demonstrate the 
// working of quotemeta() function 
  
$str = "+geek* for geeks.";
  
// prints the string by adding backslashes 
// in front of the predefined characters
echo(quotemeta($str));
?>


Output:

\+geek\* for geeks\.

Program 3: When string has brackets and parenthesis as predefined characters.




<?php
// PHP program to demonstrate the 
// working of quotemeta() function 
  
$str = "[]geek for geeks()";
  
// prints the string by adding backslashes 
// in front of the predefined characters
// brackets and parenthesis
echo(quotemeta($str));
?>


Output:

\[\]geek for geeks\(\)

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

Reference:
http://php.net/manual/en/function.quotemeta.php



Last Updated : 21 Jun, 2023
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