How to Convert URLs into Clickable HTML Links in PHP Using Regular Expressions?

Convert URLs to HTML Links in PHP: A Detailed Guide

Introduction

When displaying plain text comments that contain URLs, it becomes essential to convert these links into clickable HTML anchor tags. This article explores the Regular Expressions (RegEx) techniques in PHP to effectively transform plain text URLs into HTML hyperlinks.

Examining the RegExp Solutions

1. Convert HTTP/HTTPS/WWW URLs to Clickable Links:

$url = '~(?:(https?)://([^\s<]+)|(www\.[^\s<]+?\.[^\s<]+))(?<![\.,:])~i'; 
$string = preg_replace($url, '<a href=&quot;<pre class="brush:php;toolbar:false">$url = '/(http|https|ftp|ftps)\:\/\/[a-zA-Z0-9\-\.]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,3}(\/\S*)?/';   
$string= preg_replace($url, '<a href=&quot;<pre class="brush:php;toolbar:false">$url = '@(http)?(s)?(://)?(([a-zA-Z])([-\w]+\.)+([^\s\.]+[^\s]*)+[^,.\s])@';
$string = preg_replace($url, '<a href=&quot;http://&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; title=&quot;<pre class="brush:php;toolbar:false">$url = '@(http(s)?)?(://)?(([a-zA-Z])([-\w]+\.)+([^\s\.]+[^\s]*)+[^,.\s])@';
$string = preg_replace($url, '<a href=&quot;http://&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; title=&quot;<pre class="brush:php;toolbar:false">$email = '<a href=&quot;mailto:[email&#160;protected]&quot;>[email&#160;protected]</a>';
$string = $email;
echo $string;

This RegEx pattern will target all URLs beginning with "http", "https", or "www" and transform them into clickable links.

2. Convert Only HTTP/HTTPS URLs to Clickable Links:

This variant focuses exclusively on HTTP and HTTPS URLs, excluding FTP and other protocols.

3. Convert All URL Types to Clickable Links:

This RegEx will match and convert all URL types, including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and more.

4. Prevent URL Stripping:

This updated version ensures that the "s" in "https" is preserved, preventing URL stripping.

5. Customize for Specific Cases:

This solution provides a simple method to transform email addresses into clickable mailto links.

Conclusion

Using the provided RegEx solutions, you can efficiently convert plain text URLs into HTML hyperlinks in PHP. Depending on your specific requirements, choose the appropriate pattern to achieve seamless commenting and navigation within your web application.

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