I know "explode" splits the string and turns it into an array for every occurrence. But how do I split on the third occurrence and keep everything after the third occurrence?

Examples 1:

$split = explode(':', 'abc-def-ghi::State.32.1.14.16.5:A);

I would like this to output:

echo $split[0];  // abc-def-ghi::State.32.1.14.16.5
echo $split[1];  // A

Examples 2:

$split = explode(':', 'def-ghi::yellow:abc::def:B);

I would like this to output:

echo $split[0];  // def-ghi::yellow
echo $split[1];  // abc::def:B

Explanation:

First split by :: and get both the output
Now, split further output by : and get individual strings
Last, append required strings according to your requirements to get exact output.

Code:

<?php
  $str = "abc-def-ghi::State.32.1.14.16.5:A";
  $split1 = explode('::', $str)[0];
  $split2 = explode('::', $str)[1];
  $split3 = explode(':', $split2)[0];
  $split4 = explode(':', $split2)[1];
  echo $split1 . "::" . $split3;
  echo $split4;
?>

First explode the string by the delimiter

$x = explode(':', $string) 

Then find the index you need, hopefully $x[2]

Then concatenate the first two.

$first_half = $x[0].$x[1]

Then implode anything after $x[2]

$second_half = implode(':', array_slice($x, 2))

Split a string using a delimiter and return two strings split on the the nth occurrence of the delimiter.

• 1) Explode using the delimiter.
• 2) If the required array entry is set then find the position of that sting in the original source.
• 3) Split into two string at the postion of that string.

Demonstration at eval.in

Code:

<?php
/**
 * Split a string using a delimiter and return two strings split on the the nth occurrence of the delimiter.

 *  @param string  $source
 *  @param integer $index - one-based index
 *  @param char    $delimiter
 *
 * @return array  - two strings 
 */
function strSplit($source, $index, $delim)
{
  $outStr[0] = $source;
  $outStr[1] = '';

  $partials = explode($delim, $source);

  if (isset($partials[$index]) && strlen($partials[$index]) > 0) {
     $splitPos = strpos($source, $partials[$index]);

     $outStr[0] = substr($source, 0, $splitPos - 1);
     $outStr[1] = substr($source, $splitPos);
  }

  return $outStr;
}

Test:

$split = strSplit('abc-def-ghi::State.32.1.14.16.5:A', 3, ':');

var_dump($split);

$split1 = strSplit('def-ghi::yellow:', 3, ':');

var_dump($split, $split1);

Output:

array(2) {
  [0]=>
  string(31) "abc-def-ghi::State.32.1.14.16.5"
  [1]=>
  string(1) "A"
}
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  string(31) "abc-def-ghi::State.32.1.14.16.5"
  [1]=>
  string(1) "A"
}
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  string(16) "def-ghi::yellow:"
  [1]=>
  string(0) ""
}