What is explode in PHP?

The explode is a built-in function in PHP to convert a string to array by a split with the help of delimiter.The explode takes a string, separator, and limit for performing this action. The return type of this function is array.

Syntax:

<?php
	explode(separator,string,limit);
?>

Parameter:

separator(required): separator describes where it needs to break the string.

string(required): string which needs to break

limit(optional): specifies the number of elements in the array needs to return.
Possible values of limit:
a positive number(n): Returns array having a maximum of limit elements
a negative number(-n): Returns array having elements except last.
Zero: Returns array having only one element.

Examples:

<?php
    $inputString = 'john says good morning';
    echo  'zero limit:';
    echo '<pre>';
        print_r(explode(' ',$inputString,0));
    echo '</pre>';

    echo  'positive number limit:';
    echo '<pre>';
        print_r(explode(' ',$inputString,2));
    echo '</pre>';

    echo  'positive number limit:';
    echo '<pre>';
        print_r(explode(' ',$inputString,6));
    echo '</pre>';

    echo  'negative number limit:';
    echo '<pre>';
        print_r(explode(' ',$inputString,-1));
    echo '</pre>';

    echo  'Without limit';
    echo '<pre>';
        print_r(explode(' ',$inputString));
    echo '</pre>';
?>

Output: