PHP 8 reference · Multibyte String Functions

PHP mb_str_split() Function

Split a multibyte string into an array of characters, or of chunks of n characters. The UTF-8-safe str_split().

Create a free account to save this page, take notes and track your progress. Sign in

Syntax

mb_str_split(string $string, int $length = 1, ?string $encoding = null): array

Parameter	Description
`string`	The input string.
`length` optional	Characters per chunk. Default: `1`
`encoding` optional	The character encoding; defaults to `mb_internal_encoding()` (UTF-8).

An array of strings.

Split into charactersTry it yourself

<?php
print_r(mb_str_split("héllo"));

Output

Array
(
    [0] => h
    [1] => é
    [2] => l
    [3] => l
    [4] => o
)

Reverse safely, chunk by charactersTry it yourself

<?php
echo implode("", array_reverse(mb_str_split("añejo"))), "\n";
print_r(mb_str_split("東京大阪京都", 2));

Output

ojeña
Array
(
    [0] => 東京
    [1] => 大阪
    [2] => 京都
)

Version	Change
PHP 7.4	Added

str_split() · Split a string into an array of chunks of a given length, one byte each by default. Use mb_str_split() for UTF-8.
mb_strlen() · Return the number of characters in a string, counting é or 日 as one character. The UTF-8-safe version of strlen().
strrev() · Reverse a string byte by byte. Fine for ASCII, but it breaks multibyte characters such as é.
PHP Strings · tutorial