Question

What does the following PHP code accomplish?

1. function validateInput ( $data ) {

2. $data = trim ( $data );

3. $data = stripslashes ( $data );

4. $data = htmlspecialchars ($data , ENT_QUOTES | ENT_HTML5 ,'UTF -8 ');

5. return $data ;

6.   }

Answer 1

   Code Snippet:

       function validateInput ( $data ) {
           $data = trim ( $data );
           $data = stripslashes ( $data );
           $data = htmlspecialchars ($data , ENT_QUOTES | ENT_HTML5 ,'UTF -8 ');
           return $data ;
       }

   Explanation:
       The following function validates the string input and performs some operations.

       Like -
           trim ($data);       ->   It removes the backspace from the string $data and reassign it to $data.
           stripslashes($data)   ->   It removes the slashes from the string $data and reassign it to $data.
           htmlspecialchars($data , ENT_QUOTES | ENT_HTML5 ,'UTF-8');   ->   It convert special character to their HTML equivalent, example '>' will convert into <.

  
   Test string

       $data = " The\ number 5 > 3.";
      
       $data = trim ( $data );
       =>   $data = "The\ number 5 > 3."
      
       $data = stripslashes ( $data );
       =>   $data = "The number 5 > 3."

       $data = htmlspecialchars ($data , ENT_QUOTES | ENT_HTML5 ,'UTF -8 ');
       =>   $data = "The number 5 < 3."

       Final String $data = "The number 5 < 3."