This Is How to Scan Any URL for Matching Terms in an Array Using PHP
As a WordPress developer, you often find yourself needing to perform various types of URL and content analysis. One common task is checking if a URL contains specific terms or keywords from a predefined list. This can be particularly useful for implementing features like URL-based content personalization, targeted marketing campaigns, or even simple URL-based redirects.
In this blog post, we'll explore a simple yet effective PHP code snippet that allows you to scan any URL for matching terms in an array. We'll also discuss how you can incorporate this technique into your WordPress projects to enhance your website's functionality and user experience.
Understanding the Problem and the Solution
Imagine you have a list of specific terms or keywords that you want to check for within a given URL. For example, let's say you have an array of three terms: 'test1', 'test2', 'test3'
. You want to write a script that can check the current URL and determine if any of those terms are present.
The PHP code snippet you provided is a great starting point for solving this problem:
$my_array = array('test1', 'test2', 'test3');
$the_url = 'http://' . $_SERVER['SERVER_NAME'] . $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'];
foreach ($my_array as $url) {
if (strpos($the_url, $url) !== FALSE) {
echo "Match found";
return true;
}
}
echo "Not found!";
return false;
This code does the following:
- It defines an array of terms
$my_array
that you want to check for.
- It builds the current URL
$the_url
using the $_SERVER['SERVER_NAME']
and $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']
variables.
- It then loops through each term in the
$my_array
and uses the strpos()
function to check if the term is present in the URL.
- If a match is found, it outputs "Match found" and returns
true
.
- If no match is found, it outputs "Not found!" and returns
false
.
This is a simple and effective way to achieve the desired functionality, but there are a few things we can do to enhance it further and make it more robust for use in a WordPress context.
Enhancing the Code for WordPress
-
Naming Conventions and Readability: To make the code more readable and maintainable, let's use more descriptive variable names. Instead of $my_array
and $the_url
, we can use $search_terms
and $current_url
, respectively.
-
Returning an Array of Matches: Instead of simply returning a boolean value, let's modify the code to return an array of the terms that were found in the URL. This will provide more useful information for further processing or integration with other WordPress features.
-
WordPress-Specific Functionality: Since we're discussing this in the context of WordPress, let's add a few WordPress-specific features to make the code more useful for WordPress developers.
Here's the enhanced version of the code:
function scan_url_for_terms($search_terms, $url = null) {
if (is_null($url)) {
$current_url = 'http://' . $_SERVER['SERVER_NAME'] . $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'];
} else {
$current_url = $url;
}
$matches = [];
foreach ($search_terms as $term) {
if (strpos($current_url, $term) !== false) {
$matches[] = $term;
}
}
return $matches;
}
// Example usage
$terms_to_search = ['test1', 'test2', 'test3'];
$url_matches = scan_url_for_terms($terms_to_search);
if (!empty($url_matches)) {
echo "Matches found: " . implode(', ', $url_matches);
} else {
echo "No matches found.";
}
Let's break down the changes:
-
Function Definition: We've wrapped the core functionality in a function called scan_url_for_terms()
. This function takes two parameters: $search_terms
(the array of terms to search for) and an optional $url
parameter (to allow for custom URL scanning).
-
URL Handling: If no $url
parameter is provided, the function will automatically use the current URL by accessing the $_SERVER['SERVER_NAME']
and $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']
variables. This makes the function more versatile and easier to use in various WordPress contexts.
-
Returning Matches: Instead of returning a boolean value, the function now returns an array of the terms that were found in the URL. This provides more useful information for further processing or integration with other WordPress features.
-
Example Usage: The example usage at the bottom of the code demonstrates how you can call the scan_url_for_terms()
function and handle the results, whether matches are found or not.
By implementing these enhancements, you can now easily integrate this URL scanning functionality into your WordPress projects. Here are a few examples of how you might use this code:
1. Content Personalization:
You can use the scan_url_for_terms()
function to check the current URL and personalize the content on your WordPress site based on the detected terms. For instance, if the URL contains the term "test1", you could display a specific banner or widget related to that term.
2. Targeted Marketing and Campaigns:
Similarly, you could use the function to trigger specific marketing campaigns or display targeted ads based on the terms found in the URL. This could be particularly useful for e-commerce or lead generation WordPress sites.
3. URL-based Redirects:
The function could also be used to implement URL-based redirects. If the URL contains a specific term, you could redirect the user to a different page or section of your WordPress site.
4. Analytics and Reporting:
By integrating the scan_url_for_terms()
function with a WordPress analytics plugin or custom tracking, you could gather valuable data on the types of URLs being accessed on your site. This information could then be used to optimize your content, marketing, or user experience.
The possibilities are endless, and this simple yet powerful code snippet can be a valuable tool in your WordPress development arsenal. Remember to always consider user privacy and security when implementing any URL-based functionality on your WordPress site.
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