Sentences into URLs

How to convert?

[madmatt69]

Hey all,

I would like to take some data, say a string like "This is my site" and use php to take that and turn it into "this-is-my-site" for example.

Is there a function that does this? I assume I would store the string in a variable, like $txt="this is my site" and then output the new string into another variable.

If anyone can point me towards a function that will do this, that'd be great. I'm obviously a noob at php :)

[mcavic]

preg_replace() [us2.php.net]

[eelixduppy]

I'm confused as to what you mean as a URL. I do not understand what you are getting at with your example.

Do you mean something like this?

$text = "example.com";
echo '<a href="http://www'.$text.'">'.$text.'</a>';

Or do you mean that you want to transform specific words in a body of text into a link by searching for them? (something maybe with preg_replace)

Can you please specify if I'm thinking incorrectly?

;)

Sorry for my misunderstanding

[TravH]

You could also use: urlencode('Your sentence here.')
If you were trying to make sentences with symbols and spaces into valid urls.

[madmatt69]

Thanks for the responses.

I'm trying to take a sentence such as "my sentence is this" and be able to use it as a url like "my-sentence-is-this.html"

I think I may have found a different way of doing this, based on some variables in the script. For example one variable returns the filename "image.jpg". I'd like to take that and strip off the .jpg.

Would I do something like:
$filename = image.jpg
$new_url = preg_replace ($filename)

?

I know I'm missing a step. Do I need to explode the $filename variable?

[madmatt69]

Whoah - urlencode looks very interesting too. I'm gonna test that out.

[eelixduppy]

>>>I'd like to take that and strip off the .jpg

You can take a look at basename [us3.php.net] however if I remember correctly the suffix is case-sensitive.

[Jordo needs a drink]

Whoah - urlencode looks very interesting too. I'm gonna test that out.

It can make your url look pretty ugly...

If you want clean looking urls with dashes instead of %20 then use preg_replace to change spaces to dashes.

[eelixduppy]

>>>then use preg_replace to change spaces to dashes

For something like this you are better off using str_replace [us2.php.net] ;)

[Jordo needs a drink]

For something like this you are better off using str_replace ;)

You're right... I was just sticking with the theme... lol

[madmatt69]

Talk about more than one way to skin a cat.

Alright I'll play around with all these options and see what I can get going :)