# 
## Overview

In PHP, the **`str_word_count()`** method counts the number of words in a string and returns the count value. It has been a part of the standard library in PHP, which has been available since PHP version 4.3 and later. 



# 
#  Syntax
```
 str_word_count($string,$format, $characters)
```

# 
## Parameters
* **`$string`**: The string whose words are counted.
*  **`$format`**: This is an integer value that indicates the function's return value. 
The supported values are listed below:   
   * **`0`** returns the number of words found.
   *   **`1`** is   an array that has all the strings found in `$string`.
   * **`2`** returns an associative array. The array key is the numeric position of the word inside the **`$string`**,  and the array value is the actual word itself.
> Note: The  `$format` parameter only supports `0`, `1`, and `2` as valid values.

 

* **`$character`**: This parameter indicates the list of other characters to be seen as words.



> This function only identifies a group of letters as a word. If a number or any other character is part of the input `$string`, it is considered a word on its own. In that case, it is only returned as a part of the counted word if passed as a character parameter.

##
## Example 




<?php 


    // a normal string
    $str = "It is surely a bright day today";

    //string with some space
    $strings = "It is surely a bright          day today";

    // strings with number and special character
    $stringing = "Hello wor3ld enjoy y%our day";
        
    // the format param defaults to zero       
    print_r(str_word_count($str));
    echo "\n";

    //this will print a simple index array
    print_r(str_word_count($str,1));

    // an associative array is displayed.
    print_r(str_word_count($str,2)); 

    // This count shows that spaces are not counted
    echo "\n" ;  
    print_r(str_word_count($strings)); 
    echo "\n";
    /* with the character param the 
    special char is returned*/
    print_r(str_word_count($stringing, 1,'3%'));
    echo "\n";
    print_r(str_word_count($stringing));
?>


## Explanation



* Line 5–11: We define three string variables `$str`, `$string`, and `$stringing`.

* Line 14: We count the `$str` string and print the count result.

* Line 18: We call the `str_word_count()` function on the string with the `$format` parameter passed as `1`. It  returns an indexed array.

* Line 25–31: We count the words in the `$strings` and `$stringing` string variables.

 * Line 21: We call the `str_word_count()` function on `$stringing` with the `$format` parameter set as `1`. It returns an indexed array. We set the `$character` parameter as `3%`. This causes the function to consider `3` and `%` found in the `$stringing` variable as separate words.

# 
#  Syntax
```
 str_word_count($string,$format, $characters)
```

# 
## Parameters
* **`＄string`**: The string whose words are counted.
*  **`＄format`**: This is an integer value that indicates the function's return value. 
The supported values are listed below:   
   * **`0`** returns the number of words found.
   *   **`1`** is   an array that has all the strings found in `＄string`.
   * **`2`** returns an associative array. The array key is the numeric position of the word inside the **`＄string`**,  and the array value is the actual word itself.
> Note: The  `＄format` parameter only supports `0`, `1`, and `2` as valid values.

 

* **`＄character`**: This parameter indicates the list of other characters to be seen as words.



> This function only identifies a group of letters as a word. If a number or any other character is part of the input `＄string`, it is considered a word on its own. In that case, it is only returned as a part of the counted word if passed as a character parameter.

##
## Example 





## Explanation



* Line 5–11: We define three string variables `＄str`, `＄string`, and `＄stringing`.

* Line 14: We count the `＄str` string and print the count result.

* Line 18: We call the `str_word_count()` function on the string with the `＄format` parameter passed as `1`. It  returns an indexed array.

* Line 25–31: We count the words in the `＄strings` and `＄stringing` string variables.

 * Line 21: We call the `str_word_count()` function on `＄stringing` with the `＄format` parameter set as `1`. It returns an indexed array. We set the `＄character` parameter as `3%`. This causes the function to consider `3` and `%` found in the `＄stringing` variable as separate words.

What is the str_word_count method in PHP?

PHP's str_word_count() method counts words in a string and handles various return formats.