Simplify preg match statements

[ntbgl]

When using preg_match, I'm always finding myself writing two lines of code:

preg_match("/start(.*)end/isU",$in,$out);
$out=$out[1];

Is there a way to say that I want the output to be a string?

Thanks

[coopster]

That's common usage. Otherwise you could use preg_replace but only if you are using the entire string in your pattern.