parse_str

Parses the string into variables

&reftitle.description; `void` `parse_str` `string` `string` `array` `result`

Parses `string` as if it were the query string passed via a URL and sets variables in the current scope (or in the array if `result` is provided).

&reftitle.parameters;

`string`

- The input string.

`result`

- If the second parameter `result` is present, variables are stored in this variable as array elements instead.

  Using this function without the `result` parameter is highly DISCOURAGED and DEPRECATED as of PHP 7.2. As of PHP 8.0.0, the `result` parameter is mandatory.

&reftitle.returnvalues;

&return.void;

&reftitle.changelog;

&Version; | &Description;
8.0.0 | `result` is no longer optional.
7.2.0 | Usage of `parse_str` without a second parameter now emits an `E_DEPRECATED` notice.

&reftitle.examples;

### Using `parse_str`

    <?php
    $str = "first=value&arr[]=foo+bar&arr[]=baz";

    // Recommended
    parse_str($str, $output);
    echo $output['first'];  // value
    echo $output['arr'][0]; // foo bar
    echo $output['arr'][1]; // baz

    // DISCOURAGED
    parse_str($str);
    echo $first;  // value
    echo $arr[0]; // foo bar
    echo $arr[1]; // baz
    ?>

Because variables in PHP can't have dots and spaces in their names, those are converted to underscores. Same applies to naming of respective key names in case of using this function with `result` parameter.

### `parse_str` name mangling

    <?php
    parse_str("My Value=Something");
    echo $My_Value; // Something

    parse_str("My Value=Something", $output);
    echo $output['My_Value']; // Something
    ?>

&reftitle.notes;

All variables created (or values returned into array if second parameter is set) are already `urldecode`d.

To get the current `QUERY_STRING`, you may use the variable `$_SERVER['QUERY_STRING']`. Also, you may want to read the section on variables from external sources.

&reftitle.seealso;

- `parse_url`
- `pathinfo`
- `http_build_query`
- `urldecode`