I'm making a bookmarks feature for my website, and I got the cookie system and all already working, but when users forget to put a http:// before the link, it will point to my server and make the link useless.

Now I want to make a system that checks the links before they get submitted, and add a http:// if it's missing.

Now i'm thinking that I can use preg replace to do this, but I really don't understand how to use it.

If someone can make a simple sample for me and show me a good tutorial to use preg replace I can get on with my project .

The php.net page about the function is really lacking good explanation.

TIA

You better use substrings for that... tbh

substrings? I'm sorry i'm a php n00b

psuedo..

code:

---

if left(URL, 7) != "http://" then
URL = "http://" & URL
end if

---

code:

---

$pos = strpos($URL, "http://");

if ($pos === false) {
   $URL = "http://". $URL . "";
} else {
   echo "its there ";
}

---

Ah, thanks a bunch

I'm trying substr and that idea of stigmata

EDIT: OMGWTFBBQ

I managed to break my script

It's gonna take some time to get it working again, but I believe your script is working stigmata, thanks for that.

If you www.pastebin.com'd it.. we could help.

nah, already found it, I made a function and used a return but that caused the rest of the function to stop executing, so I changed it a little

And that code from stigmata works great

good to know i can still code

What if I enter this link:

https://www.thisisasafesite.com

It'll be:

http://https://www.thisisasafesite.com

You'd better do:

code:

---

if (!preg_match("/^[a-z]+:\/\//i", $URL) {
   $URL = "http://". $URL;
}

---

I guess that will also allow me to use other protocols like ftp, thats good

But could you gice me something that explains that "/^[a-z]+:\/\//i"
So I don't have to ask for it next time

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ezra
But could you gice me something that explains that "/^[a-z]+:\/\//i"

---

Exactly

I'm not sure if there are protocols with other chars then a-z in it, but it supports at least http, https, ftp etc. And if you ever see another protocol, you can always change it

Btw:
"/^[a-z]+:\/\//i"

The "main preg" is between / and /
The ^ stands for "begins with";
[a-z]+ is one of more letters
: is a colon
\/ is a /, but should be escaped with a \
\/ is another one
/ is the last / of the preg
i means case insensitive

Thanks for the explanation both