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# PHP Function preg_match()

## Syntax

int preg_match (string pattern, string string [, array pattern_array], [, int $flags [, int $offset]]]);

## Definition and Usage

The preg_match() function searches string for pattern, returning true if pattern exists, and false otherwise.

If the optional input parameter pattern_array is provided, then pattern_array will contain various sections of the subpatterns contained in the search pattern, if applicable.

If this flag is passed as PREG_OFFSET_CAPTURE, for every occurring match the appendant string offset will also be returned

Normally, the search starts from the beginning of the subject string. The optional parameter offset can be used to specify the alternate place from which to start the search.

## Return Value

- Returns true if pattern exists, and false otherwise.

## Example

Following is the piece of code, copy and paste this code into a file and verify the result.

    <?php

    $line = "Vi is the greatest word processor ever created!";
    // perform a case-Insensitive search for the word "Vi"
    if (preg_match("/\bVi\b/i", $line, $match)) :
      print "Match found!";
    endif;

    ?>

This will produce following result.

    Match found!

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