Validation of a input field

KRAK_JOE

I would like to validate a form on a php page to make sure that the number begins 07 or +44 to make sure it's a UK phone number, if anyone has any idea of how to do this with php I would LOVE (and rather need) an example.

Thanks in advance

bpat1434

Simple regex....

if(ereg("^[07|\+44]", $string))
{
  // valid
}

Matches only phone numbers of:
+44 123 456 7890
77 123 456 7890

Although, you might want to make sure that you only get numbers....

Here's something simple:

if(ereg("^07|\+44[0-9\(\) \-]*[0-9]{1}$", $_POST['phone']))
{
  // Valid Phone Number
}

So this matches any phone number that starts with either 07 or +44, then it makes sure only numbers, (, ), or - show up, and the string ends with a number....

KRAK_JOE

Thanks so much for answering I bin at this all day - here is the html I have so far, and it works.

  

<html>
   <head>
   <META HTTP-EQUIV="CONTENT-Type" CONTENT="text/html;CHARSET=utf-8" >
   <title>Insides-Out SMS Service</title>
</head>
   <body>
   <font face="sans-serif" size="2">
   <hr size="1" color="#707070">
   <div align="center"><font size="4"><em><strong>
     <object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=5,0,0,0" width="364" height="30" title="title">
       <param name="movie" value="text2.swf">
       <param name="quality" value="high">
       <embed src="text2.swf" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="364" height="30" ></embed>
     </object>
   </strong></em> </font>
     <br>
     <br>
   </div>
   <hr size="1" color="#707070">
   <br>
   <form action="send.php" method="post" >
     <div align="center">
       <table border="0" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" ID="Table1">
         <tr>
           <td valign="top">Recipient:</td>
        <td>
          <input size="13" type="text" name="Recipient" value="+44">
          <br>
          <font size="1" face="sans-serif"><b><font color="#700000">UK RECIPITENTS ONLY </font></b></font>      </td>
     </tr>
         <tr>         </tr>
         <tr>
           <td valign="top">Message:<br>(max. 160 chars)</td>
        <td>
          <textarea rows="3" name="Message" cols="38"></textarea>          </td>
     </tr>
       </table>
       <br>
       <input type="submit" value="Send Message">
       <br>
       <br>
       <b><em>IMPORTANT:</em></b><em> Please press the button <b>only once</b>, and allow some time for the SMS to be processed.</em> 
       </div>
   </form>
   <br>
   <hr size="1" color="#707070">
   <div align="center">
   </div>
   <div align="center"> 
   </div>
   </body>
</html>

So where abouts do I put that php? in the body? plus, is there anyway I can have the page reload if the user inputs data wrong, or maybe a box telling them they're stupid??? 🙂 Thanks again, I realise how cheeky it is........

bpat1434

Well, to do the validation you'd either put it in "send.php" or above before any HTML output. If you google for this topic, Form verification, you'll find plenty of info....

swatisonee

Hi Bpat1434,

For my understanding can you please explain what is meant by "it makes sure only numbers, (, ), or - show up, and the string ends with a number...."

in the code you posted ?
Thanks.

bpat1434

07|+44[0-9() -]*[0-9]{1}$

♦ Starting and ending string delimeters
♦ Requires the first part of the string to be 07 or +44
♦ Any number (0-9) or parenthesis or hyphen or space for any amount of character
♦ The last one character is a number.

So, it would match the following:
07 color=green 456-789[/color]0
+441234567890
07 123-456-7890
+44 123 456 7890

Now, I don't live in EU, so I don't know the normal tele number format. So, if you wanted to limit the number of characters that the actual phone number is, you'd put the range in {} (like the last one).

So a US phone number format (10 digits: 3 for zip, 3 for first part, 4 for last part) would look like:
[0-9() -]{10, 14}
Meaning it would match
1234567890 <-- 10 straight digits
(123) 4567890 <-- 13 digits
(123) 456-7890 <-- 14 digits, Normal formatting of phone number

Now, to put it into your circumstances (assuming EU phone numbers are 10 digits long) you'd have to define that the last number is in fact a number (we've done that), so 10-1 = 9. So at least 9 digits, at most 13 digits/spaces/hyphens/parenthesis.

Hope that helps....

EDIT
Now, if EU phone numbers are formatted just like US phone numbers, you could use this regex as well:
^07|+44[ ]?[(]?[0-9]{3}[)]?[ ]?[0-9]{3}[ -]?[0-9]{4}$

swatisonee

Thats fantastic. Thank you.