Using WordPress ‘backslashit()’ PHP function

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The backslashit() WordPress PHP function adds backslashes before letters and before a number at the start of a string.

Usage

Let’s say you have a string like “3d printing”. Using backslashit(), it would look like this:

echo backslashit('3d printing');

The output would be:

\3d\ \p\r\i\n\t\i\n\g

Parameters

  • $value (string): The string to which backslashes will be added.

More Information

See WordPress Developer Resources: backslashit()

This function is an essential part of WordPress, utilized in various parts of the codebase. It’s always kept up to date and isn’t marked as deprecated.

Examples

Basic Usage of backslashit()

In this example, backslashes are added to a basic string.

$text = 'Hello World';
$backslashed_text = backslashit($text);
echo $backslashed_text; 
// Output: \H\e\l\l\o\ \W\o\r\l\d

This code takes a simple ‘Hello World’ string and adds backslashes before each character.

backslashit() with Numbers

Demonstrating how the function behaves with numbers in the string.

$number_text = '123 Test';
$backslashed_number = backslashit($number_text);
echo $backslashed_number; 
// Output: \1\2\3\ \T\e\s\t

In this case, backslashes are added even before the numbers in the string.

backslashit() with Special Characters

Here we see how the function works with special characters.

$special_char_text = '@Hello#';
$backslashed_special_char = backslashit($special_char_text);
echo $backslashed_special_char; 
// Output: \@H\e\l\l\o\#

As you can see, backslashes are added before letters but not before special characters.

backslashit() with Empty String

This example handles an empty string.

$empty_text = '';
$backslashed_empty = backslashit($empty_text);
echo $backslashed_empty; 
// Output:

An empty string remains empty even after applying the function.

backslashit() with String Containing Spaces Only

What if the string is composed of spaces only?

$space_text = '     ';
$backslashed_space = backslashit($space_text);
echo $backslashed_space; 
// Output: \ \ \ \ \

Spaces are treated as characters, and backslashes are added before each space.