How do you perform a preg_match where the pattern is an array, in php?

Question

I have an array full of patterns that I need matched. Any way to do that, other than a for() loop? Im trying to do it in the least CPU intensive way, since I will be doing

Answer 1

You can combine all the patterns from the list to single regular expression using implode() php function. Then test your string at once using preg_match() php function.

$patterns = array(
  'abc',
  '\d+h',
  '[abc]{6,8}\-\s*[xyz]{6,8}',
);

$master_pattern = '/(' . implode($patterns, ')|(') . ')/'

if(preg_match($master_pattern, $string_to_check))
{
  //do something
}

Of course there could be even less code using implode() inline in "if()" condition instead of $master_pattern variable.