How to parse a query string in PHP?

Question

Consider I have a string in PHP like this:

$a = "a=hello&b=welcome&c=getlost&d=sitHere";

I want to make an array like this:

$b = ["a" => "hello", "b" => "welcome", …];

Is it possible? I think it is possible using explode.

I get this data from an AJAX request.

Bogdan Burym · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-06 16:37:40Z

3

Try this :

$a="a=hello&b=welcome&c=getlost&d=sitHere";

parse_str($a, $b);

print_r($b);

user1804599

answered Jun 6, 2014 at 16:31

Bogdan Burym

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2 Comments

parse_str always trips me up in that it doesn't return anything, but will put it into the second parameter you send it.

@OscarM. that (and its confusing name) is why you should wrap it. :)

Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 20:08:53Z

1

Wrap the horribly named function parse_str in a nicer API:

function parse_query_string($query_string) {
    $result = [];
    parse_str($query_string, $result);
    return $result;
}

Then just pass it the string and it returns the associative array.

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Jun 6, 2014 at 16:32

user1804599

Yep The function name is horrible but it is very usable..Thanks.