What is the difference between split() and explode()?

Question

The PHP manual for split() says

This function has been DEPRECATED as of PHP 5.3.0. Relying on this feature is highly discouraged...Use explode() instead.

But I can't find a difference between split() and explode(). join() hasn't been deprecated, so what gives?

Split gives you string fragments, whereas explode gives you machine fragments. Eh, probably not ... :-) — Peter Rowell, Sep 04 '10 at 05:12
@Peter Rowell: split gives you two strands of hair, whereas explode gives you shrapnel. — BoltClock, Sep 04 '10 at 05:13

BoltClock · Accepted Answer · 2010-09-04T05:16:29.967

60

It's been deprecated because

explode() is substantially faster because it doesn't split based on a regular expression, so the string doesn't have to be analyzed by the regex parser
preg_split() is faster and uses PCRE regular expressions for regex splits

join() and implode() are aliases of each other and therefore don't have any differences.

edited Sep 04 '10 at 05:16

answered Sep 04 '10 at 05:09

BoltClock

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So they messed up when they named it, apparently? Sounds like it should have been called ereg_split(). – Theodore R. Smith Sep 04 '10 at 09:24
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@hopeseekr: PHP always messes up naming of functions ;) And yeah, I guess you could say that! – BoltClock Sep 04 '10 at 09:32

score 6 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 04 '10 at 05:08

6

split uses regex, while explode uses a fixed string. If you do need regex, use preg_split, which uses PCRE (the regex package now preferred across the PHP standard library).

answered Sep 04 '10 at 05:08

Matthew Flaschen

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score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 04 '10 at 06:40

Both the functions are used to Split a string.

However, Split is used to split a string using a regular expression.

On the other hand, Explode is used to split a string using another string.

E.g explode (" this", "this is a string"); will return “Is a string”

E.g Split (" + ", "This+ is a string");

score 1 · Answer 4 · edited Dec 02 '15 at 08:13

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Both are used to split a string into an array, but the difference is that split() uses pattern for splitting whereas explode() uses string. explode() is faster than split() because it doesn't match string based on regular expression.

edited Dec 02 '15 at 08:13

José M. Pérez

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answered Dec 02 '15 at 06:57

Sampath

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score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 04 '10 at 05:09

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In split() you can use regular expressions to split a string. Whereas explode() splits a string with a string. preg_split is a much faster alternative, should you need regular expressions.

answered Sep 04 '10 at 05:09

Russell Dias

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score 0 · Answer 6 · edited Sep 02 '19 at 13:44

0

The split() function splits the string into an array using a regular expression and returns an array.

The explode() function splits the string by string.

E.g:

<?php
    $split_array=split(':','I:P:S');
    $explode_array=explode('and','I and P and S');
    print_r($split_array);
    print_r($explode_array);
?>

The result will be

Array ( [0] => I [1] => P [2] => S ) 
Array ( [0] => I [1] => P [2] => S )

Note:The function split() was DEPRECATED in PHP 5.3.0, and REMOVED in PHP 7.0.0

edited Sep 02 '19 at 13:44

Asha

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answered Jan 28 '15 at 10:00

rocoder

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Hi Johnny Come Lately!! – Theodore R. Smith Jan 29 '15 at 15:08
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I am not sure I understand this answer. I don't understand what is being illustrated, particularly with this: `$explode_array=split('and','I and P and S');` The line is also using the split() function... – O Genthe May 10 '17 at 20:22

What is the difference between split() and explode()?

6 Answers6

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