PHP Manual: Parses the string into variables

Description

void parse_str(string $string, array &$result)

Parses string as if it were the query string passed via a URL and sets variables in the current scope (or in the array if result is provided).

Parameters

string: The input string.
result: If the second parameter result is present, variables are stored in this variable as array elements instead.

Warning
Using this function without the result parameter is highly DISCOURAGED and DEPRECATED as of PHP 7.2. As of PHP 8.0.0, the result parameter is mandatory.

Return Values

No value is returned.

Changelog

Version	Description
8.0.0	`result` is no longer optional.
7.2.0	Usage of parse_str without a second parameter now emits an `E_DEPRECATED` notice.

Examples

Example #1 Using parse_str

<?php
$str = "first=value&arr[]=foo+bar&arr[]=baz";

// Recommended
parse_str($str, $output);
echo $output['first'];  // value
echo $output['arr'][0]; // foo bar
echo $output['arr'][1]; // baz

// DISCOURAGED
parse_str($str);
echo $first;  // value
echo $arr[0]; // foo bar
echo $arr[1]; // baz
?>

Because variables in PHP can't have dots and spaces in their names, those are converted to underscores. Same applies to naming of respective key names in case of using this function with result parameter.

Example #2 parse_str name mangling

<?php
parse_str("My Value=Something");
echo $My_Value; // Something

parse_str("My Value=Something", $output);
echo $output['My_Value']; // Something
?>

Notes

Note:
All variables created (or values returned into array if second parameter is set) are already urldecoded.

Note:
To get the current QUERY_STRING, you may use the variable $_SERVER['QUERY_STRING']. Also, you may want to read the section on variables from external sources.

parse_str