[RESOLVED] validating phone number in a form

[verN]

hiyya all,
I wanted to know how to validate the phone number entered by the user. In my database phone number is defined as int(3) unsigned. Would it be best to use php and use regular expersssions or use javascript. Any code would be beneficial

$phone = trim($_POST['phone']);

thanks in advance

[leatherback]

Hi verN..

First you should define what is a valid phone number. After all: this varies by country. After that, I think you'll get easy answers using a regular expression.

If you just want it to be a number you could use [man]is_numeric[/man]

[firemankurt]

Here is something I have used ...

<?php
	function Check_phone ($Phone = "",$Format=true)
	{
		// srtip all but numbers
		$Phone = preg_replace ('/[^0-9]/i',"", $Phone);

	if(empty($Phone))
	{
		return array(false,"no Phone number was submitted.");
	}
	$TheLength = strlen($Phone);
	if ($TheLength < 10)
	{
		return array(false,"phone number is ".$TheLength." digits which is ".(10 - $TheLength)." digits too short in ".$Phone.".");
	}
	if($TheLength > 10)
	{
		return array(false,"phone number is ".$TheLength." digits which is ".($TheLength - 10)." digits too long in ".$Phone.".");
	}
if($Format){
	// creates properly formated number
	$FormatedPhone = "(".substr($Phone, 0, 3).") ";
	$FormatedPhone .= substr($Phone, 3, 3)."-";
	$FormatedPhone .= substr($Phone, 6, 4);
	return array(true,$FormatedPhone);
	}
	return array(true,$Phone);
}

$MyPhoneNumber  = "360 384-1616";
list($PhoneOK,$Feedback)=Check_phone($MyPhoneNumber);

echo $PhoneOK." = ".$Feedback;

?>

[verN]

hiyya i have now changed the phoneNo to varchar(8) as opposed to int since the int gave me problems. The number entered will be an extension number to reach different poeple working in the same building.

I think using regular expressions would be better but how would I check that they have entered a number rather then a text then send an appropriate mesage.

Could someone send me code that does this
thanks

[firemankurt]

as I did above

        // srtip all but numbers
        $Phone = preg_replace ('/[^0-9]/i',"", $Phone); 

and then you can use the new number or compare to orignal value.