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<refentry xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook" xml:id="function.parse-str">
 <refnamediv>
  <refname>parse_str</refname>
  <refpurpose>Parses the string into variables</refpurpose>
 </refnamediv>
 
 <refsect1 role="description">
  &reftitle.description;
  <methodsynopsis>
   <type>void</type><methodname>parse_str</methodname>
   <methodparam><type>string</type><parameter>encoded_string</parameter></methodparam>
   <methodparam choice="opt"><type>array</type><parameter role="reference">result</parameter></methodparam>
  </methodsynopsis>
  <para>
   Parses <parameter>encoded_string</parameter> as if it were the query string
   passed via a URL and sets variables in the current scope (or in the array
   if <parameter>result</parameter> is provided).
  </para>
 </refsect1>

 <refsect1 role="parameters">
  &reftitle.parameters;
  <para>
   <variablelist>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>encoded_string</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       The input string.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
    <varlistentry>
     <term><parameter>result</parameter></term>
     <listitem>
      <para>
       If the second parameter <parameter>result</parameter> is present,
       variables are stored in this variable as array elements instead.
      </para>

      <warning>
       <para>
        Using this function without second parameter is <emphasis>DISCOURAGED</emphasis>.
        Dynamically setting variables in function's scope suffers from exactly same problems
        as <link linkend="ini.magic-quotes-gpc">register_globals</link>.
       </para>
       <para>
        Read section on security of <link linkend="security.globals">Using Register Globals</link>
        explaining why it is dangerous.
       </para>
      </warning>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
  </para>
 </refsect1>

 <refsect1 role="returnvalues">
  &reftitle.returnvalues;
  <para>
   &return.void;
  </para>
 </refsect1>

 <refsect1 role="examples">
  &reftitle.examples;
  <para>
   <example>
    <title>Using <function>parse_str</function></title>
    <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
// Recommended
parse_str($str, $output);
echo $output['first'];  // value
echo $output['arr'][0]; // foo bar
echo $output['arr'][1]; // baz

$str = "first=value&arr[]=foo+bar&arr[]=baz";
parse_str($str);
echo $first;  // value
echo $arr[0]; // foo bar
echo $arr[1]; // baz
?>
]]>
    </programlisting>
   </example>
  </para>
  <para>
   Because variables in PHP can't have dots and spaces in their names,
   those are converted to underscores. Same applies to naming of
   respective key names in case of using this function with
   <parameter>result</parameter> parameter.   
   <example>
    <title><function>parse_str</function> name mangling</title>
    <programlisting role="php">
<![CDATA[
<?php
parse_str($"My Value=Something");
echo $My_Value; // Something

parse_str($"My Value=Something", $output);
echo $output['My_Value']; // Something
?>
]]>
    </programlisting>
   </example>
  </para> 
 </refsect1>
 
 <refsect1 role="notes">
  &reftitle.notes;

  <note>
   <para>
    All variables created (or values returned into array if second parameter is set)
    are already <function>urldecode</function>d.
   </para>
  </note>
  <note>
   <para>
    To get the current <literal>QUERY_STRING</literal>, you may use the variable
    <varname>$_SERVER['QUERY_STRING']</varname>.
    Also, you may want to read the section on
    <link linkend="language.variables.external">variables from external
    sources</link>.
   </para>
  </note>
  <note>
   <para>
    The <link linkend="ini.magic-quotes-gpc">magic_quotes_gpc</link> setting
    affects the output of this function, as <function>parse_str</function> uses
    the same mechanism that PHP uses to populate the <varname>$_GET</varname>,
    <varname>$_POST</varname>, etc. variables.
   </para>
  </note>
 </refsect1>

 <refsect1 role="seealso">
  &reftitle.seealso;
  <para>
   <simplelist>
    <member><function>parse_url</function></member>
    <member><function>pathinfo</function></member>
    <member><function>http_build_query</function></member>
    <member><function>urldecode</function></member>
   </simplelist>
  </para>
 </refsect1>

</refentry>

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