Introduction:

When working with web development or file management systems, it's common to encounter slugified directory names. These names are often URL-friendly but can be challenging for users to read and understand. In this blog post, we will explore how to convert these slugified directory names into user-friendly strings using PHP. We will cover multiple methods, each with its own advantages and use cases.

Method 1: Exploding and Capitalizing

The first method involves exploding the slugified directory name and capitalizing each word. Let's dive into the PHP code:

<?php
function convertSlugToString($slug) {
    $words = explode('-', $slug);
    $capitalizedWords = array_map('ucfirst', $words);
    $result = implode(' ', $capitalizedWords);
    return $result;
}

// Example usage
$slugifiedDirectory = 'web-development-tips';
$result = convertSlugToString($slugifiedDirectory);
echo $result;
?>

Output:

Web Development Tips

In this method, we use the explode function to split the slugified string into an array of words. We then use array_map with the ucfirst function to capitalize the first letter of each word. Finally, we use implode to join the words into a human-readable string.

Method 2: Regular Expressions

The second method employs regular expressions to replace hyphens with spaces and capitalize the first letter of each word. Let's look at the code:

<?php
function convertSlugToStringRegex($slug) {
    $result = ucwords(str_replace('-', ' ', $slug));
    return $result;
}

// Example usage
$slugifiedDirectory = 'data-science-tools';
$result = convertSlugToStringRegex($slugifiedDirectory);
echo $result;
?>

Output:

Data Science Tools

This method uses the str_replace function to replace hyphens with spaces and ucwords to capitalize the first letter of each word. The result is a clear and readable string.

Method 3: Custom Function with Word Mapping

The third method involves a custom function that maps specific words for better readability. Let's explore the PHP code:

<?php
function convertSlugToStringCustom($slug) {
    $wordMap = [
        'php' => 'PHP',
        'js' => 'JavaScript',
        'css' => 'CSS',
        // Add more mappings as needed
    ];

    $words = explode('-', $slug);
    $convertedWords = array_map(function ($word) use ($wordMap) {
        return isset($wordMap[$word]) ? $wordMap[$word] : ucfirst($word);
    }, $words);

    $result = implode(' ', $convertedWords);
    return $result;
}

// Example usage
$slugifiedDirectory = 'php-js-css-tutorials';
$result = convertSlugToStringCustom($slugifiedDirectory);
echo $result;
?>

Output:

PHP JavaScript CSS Tutorials

This method allows you to create a custom mapping for specific words, ensuring that they are displayed in a preferred way.

Conclusion:

In this blog, we have explored different methods to convert slugified directory names into user-friendly strings using PHP. Whether you prefer exploding and capitalizing, using regular expressions, or implementing a custom function with word mapping, PHP provides versatile options for improving the readability of directory names. Consider the specific requirements of your project when choosing the most suitable method.