How to check if a String Contains a Substring in PHP ? (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

Checking whether a string contains a specific substring is a common task in PHP. Whether you're parsing user input, filtering content, or building search functionality, substring checking plays a crucial role.

Methods

Below are the following methods by which we can check if a string contains a substring in PHP:

1. Using str_contains() (PHP 8+)

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**Output:

Substring found!

2. Using strpos() (All PHP versions)

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**Output:

Substring found!

3. Case-Insensitive Search with stripos()

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**Output:

Substring found (case-insensitive)!

4. Using Regular Expressions with preg_match()

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Best Practices

• Use str_contains() for simple checks (if PHP 8+).
• Always check strpos with !== false, not != false.
• Use stripos() for case-insensitive searches.
• Prefer preg_match() only for complex pattern matching.