How do I test a link is really a link

sy-co

I want to write a validating script that will open a givenURL(1) search it for a link to givenURL(2) and check that the link within givenURL(1) page is good.

I could just use file(givenURL1) and ereg for 'href="http://givenURL(2)' but if the problem is if 'href="http://givenURL(2)' is (html) quoted out or is just printed on the page and not actually a link then it will fool the validator into thinking the link is genuine.

I have a vague memory of a function that might help. Is there something that might make this possible.

sbaba13

Strip the HTML tags from file(givenURL1), use ereg to search for URL2. If it is not found then you can continue to apply ereg to the unstripped HTML code. This way, you will be sure that you're not fooled.
The only problem is when URL2 is also as content in the HTML code. Then you'' think that you wanna be fooled and dont continue searching.
I know, it is not the optimal solution but it worths a try.

sy-co

Actually sbaba13 thats the problem. Thanks for your solution but it is still too easy to fool.

I need a function that will follow the link not just ereg for it.

tekky

1) dont strip the tags, use the tags in the EREG to find actual HREFS and strip out the addresses for parsing

2) use file() to open the valid HREFS and then scan the file for the standard 404 message
-- yes its not 100% full proof since some sites use custom 404's but there should be more trues than falses from this method....

sy-co

As both of these are valid

<A href="www.blah.com" class=link>blah<br>
<A class=link href="www.blah.com" class=link>blah

I can ereg for

href="blah.php"
and find it in both of the above which would be great except.

will also be found which is not a valid link as will plain old

href="blah.php"

printed on the page.

I am not trying to parse an address out of the page and test it is valid or 404 as I already know both URL1 and URL2.

I need to see that the link on URL1 does indeed link to URL2

Is there a PHP function to follow a link?