Referral String help Please

I use a referral code for members to refer other members. Sometimes the referral code is captured as this

csa10004%22%2520target%3D%22_blank%22%3ECLIXSWAP.COM>

when it should only be csa10004

How can I grab just the first 8 characters

Also is there a way to just identify the string csa##### and pull it out of any string that may show up? even if it is in the middle of a string?

Please help.

I have searched through every possible solution for string manipulation that I can find and still do not have the answer that I can make work.

Sure. Get the first 8 chars:

$first8 = substr($s, 0, 8);

Find csa something:

if (($n = strpos($s, "csa")) === false) {
echo("not found");
} else {
$csa8 = substr($s, $n, 8);
}

...Dave

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Thanks Dave.