PHP comes with hundreds of built-in functions, but some are more valuable than others. Here are 10 essential PHP functions that will make your development life easier:
1. array_filter()
This function filters elements of an array using a callback function. It’s incredibly useful for cleaning up data sets:
$numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
$even = array_filter($numbers, function($n) {
return $n % 2 === 0;
});
2. json_encode() / json_decode()
With the rise of APIs, these functions are essential for working with JSON data:
$data = ['name' => 'John', 'age' => 30];
$json = json_encode($data);
$array = json_decode($json, true);
3. preg_match()
For complex string pattern matching, preg_match() is your go-to function for regular expressions.
4. password_hash() / password_verify()
These secure functions handle password hashing and verification properly, using bcrypt by default.
5. filter_var()
Sanitize and validate data with this versatile function that supports various filters like FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL.
Mastering these functions will significantly improve your PHP development workflow and code quality.