Convert a string to an array

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- PHP Manual
- String Functions
- Convert a string to an array

# str_split

(PHP 5, PHP 7, PHP 8)

str_split — Convert a string to an array

### Description

str_split(string `$string`, int `$length` = 1): array

Converts a string to an array.

### Parameters

`string`

  The input string.

`length`

  Maximum length of the chunk.

### Return Values

If the optional `length` parameter is specified, the returned array will be broken down into chunks with each being `length` in length, except the final chunk which may be shorter if the string does not divide evenly. The default `length` is `1`, meaning every chunk will be one byte in size.

### Errors/Exceptions

If `length` is less than `1`, a ValueError will be thrown.

### Changelog

Version | Description
--- | ---
8.2.0 | If `string` is empty an empty array is now returned. Previously an array containing a single empty string was returned.
8.0.0 | If `length` is less than `1`, a ValueError will be thrown now; previously, an error of level `E_WARNING` has been raised instead, and the function returned `false`.

### Examples

Example #1 Example uses of str_split()

    <?php$str = "Hello Friend";$arr1 = str_split($str);$arr2 = str_split($str, 3);print_r($arr1);print_r($arr2);?>

The above example will output:

    Array
    (
        [0] => H
        [1] => e
        [2] => l
        [3] => l
        [4] => o
        [5] =>
        [6] => F
        [7] => r
        [8] => i
        [9] => e
        [10] => n
        [11] => d
    )

    Array
    (
        [0] => Hel
        [1] => lo
        [2] => Fri
        [3] => end
    )

### Notes

> Note:

> str_split() will split into bytes, rather than characters when dealing with a multi-byte encoded string. Use mb_str_split() to split the string into code points.

### See Also

- mb_str_split() - Given a multibyte string, return an array of its characters
- chunk_split() - Split a string into smaller chunks
- preg_split() - Split string by a regular expression
- explode() - Split a string by a string
- count_chars() - Return information about characters used in a string
- str_word_count() - Return information about words used in a string
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