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Parse out a parameter in a url (PHP)

Hi Experts!

I'm trying to parse out a certain parameter in the string stored at $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'].

Here's are examples of what that string looks like:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=marriage+problems&revid=486951557&sa=X&oi=revisions_inline&resnum=0&ct=top-revision&cd=1

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4HPND_enUS213US214&q=relationship+counseling+sturbridge

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=marriage+counseling

The parameter of interest is 'q'. I want to grab that parameter and store it into $_SESSION['query']

I know I can figure this out on my own but it would probably take me hours to figure out and it would probably be a sub-optimal solution.

Thanks!
John

hielo

preg_match('/q=([^&]*)/', $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'],$match);
print_r( $match );

webgeek154

ASKER

Thanks Hielo,

Do you think you can explain the regular expression in that first parameter of the preg_match() function?

I am VERY new to programming so it's like jibberish to me. : )

Thanks!
John

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

hielo

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webgeek154

ASKER

Thanks for this solution and your explanation. I'm positive you save me hours of frustration on this : )

webgeek154

ASKER

Works great. Thanks! :)

webgeek154

ASKER

Hi Hielo,

It looks like sometimes the url can look like this:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLR_enUS250US250&q=marrige+problems

Notice the 'aq' parameter which comes before the 'q' parameter. Is there a way to change the regex to require that the character before the 'q' be either a '&' or '?'?

Thanks!
John