PHP quotemeta() Function

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
// 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
// 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
// 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
// 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