Validating Money Strings
Ok, we can now use what we’ve learned to work on something useful: a regular expression
to check user input of an amount of money. A quantity of money can be written in four ways
we can consider acceptable: “10000.00” and “10,000.00”, and, without
the cents, “10000” and “10,000”. Let’s begin with:
to check user input of an amount of money. A quantity of money can be written in four ways
we can consider acceptable: “10000.00” and “10,000.00”, and, without
the cents, “10000” and “10,000”. Let’s begin with:
^[1-9][0-9]*$
That validates any number that doesn’t start with a 0. But that also means the string
“0” doesn’t pass the test. Here’s a solution:
“0” doesn’t pass the test. Here’s a solution:
^(0|[1-9][0-9]*)$
“Just a zero OR some number that doesn’t start with a zero.” We may also
allow a minus sign to be placed before the number:
allow a minus sign to be placed before the number:
^(0|-?[1-9][0-9]*)$
That means: “a zero OR a possible minus sign and a number that doesn’t start with
a zero.” Ok, let’s not be so strict and let the user start the number with a zero.
Let’s also drop the minus sign, as we won’t be needing it for the money string. What we
could do is specify an optional decimal fraction part in the number:
a zero.” Ok, let’s not be so strict and let the user start the number with a zero.
Let’s also drop the minus sign, as we won’t be needing it for the money string. What we
could do is specify an optional decimal fraction part in the number:
^[0-9]+(.[0-9]+)?$
It’s implicit in the highlited construct that a period always comes with at least one
digit, as a whole set. So, for instance, “10.” is not validated, whereas
“10” and “10.2” are.
digit, as a whole set. So, for instance, “10.” is not validated, whereas
“10” and “10.2” are.
^[0-9]+(.[0-9]{2})?$
We specified that there must be exactly two decimal places. If you think that’s too
harsh, you can do the following:
harsh, you can do the following:
^[0-9]+(.[0-9]{1,2})?$
That allows the user to write just one number after the period. Now, as for the commas
separating the thousands, we can put in:
separating the thousands, we can put in:
^[0-9]{1,3}(,[0-9]{3})*(.[0-9]{1,2})?$
“A set of 1 to 3 digits followed by zero or more sets of a comma and three
digits.” Easy enough, isn’t it? But let’s make the commas optional:
digits.” Easy enough, isn’t it? But let’s make the commas optional:
^([0-9]+|[0-9]{1,3}(,[0-9]{3})*)(.[0-9]{1,2})?$
That’s it. Don’t forget that the
strings to be accepted also (why?). And don’t forget to escape the backslash for the
function call (common mistake here). Now, once the string is validated, we strip off any
commas with
so we can make math with it.
'+' can be substituted by a '*' if you want emptystrings to be accepted also (why?). And don’t forget to escape the backslash for the
function call (common mistake here). Now, once the string is validated, we strip off any
commas with
str_replace(",", "", $money) and typecast it to doubleso we can make math with it.
