RE: preg_match() is returning inaccurate result

In more detail, `\$third` gets de-escaped when the double-quoted string is parsed. And the regular expression parser is left with just `$third`.
If you use `\\$third`, `\\` gets de-escaped to `\` and `$third` is treated as a variable (not what you want).
If you use `\\\$third`, then the regular expression parser gets both `\` and `$` preserved, which is what you want: `\$third`.

Your second example returned `TRUE` because `$third` was actually evaluated to an empty string, and `'xyz$third-party'` does end with `-party` indeed.
This second example probably triggered a warning, too - about an undefined variable `$third`. So I suggest you pay attention to PHP warnings and notices as well, as that would have probably lead you to the right direction when trying to understand what was happening.

Regards,
Janis

________________________________
No: Jigar Dhulla <[email protected]>
Nosūtīts: otrdiena, 2024. gada 23. aprīlis 08:02
Kam: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Tēma: Re: preg_match() is returning inaccurate result



On Tue, Apr 23, 2024 at 8:02 AM <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
PHP8.3.4

Can someone help? preg_match() is acting weird about \$ and \^.

var_dump(preg_match("/\$third-party$/",'xyz$third-party')?true:false);//
returns FALSE, really expecting TRUE here!
var_dump(preg_match("/$third-party$/",'xyz$third-party')?true:false);//
returns TRUE???

^ and $ must escape if it is not in beginning/ending position.
Isn't this correct?

At least Javascript is answering correctly.

/\$third-party$/.test('xyz$third-party'); // TRUE
/$third-party$/.test('xyz$third-party'); // FALSE
Hi,

double quotes ("") around a string are evaluating `$third` as a variable in the first argument.

Use single quotes ('') instead.
var_dump(preg_match('/\$third-party$/','xyz$third-party')?true:false);
var_dump(preg_match('/$third-party$/','xyz$third-party')?true:false);

Playground: https://onlinephp.io/c/52068