regex pattern to match only strings that don't contain spaces PHP
- by Jamex
Hi, 
I want to match the word/pattern that is contained in the variable, but only match against the words that don't have white spaces. Please give suggestions.
  $var = 'look'; 
  
  $array = ('look', 'greatlook',
  'lookgreat', 'look great', 'badlook',
  'look bad', 'look    ', '    look');
matches words: look, greatlook, lookgreat, badlook
non matches: look great, bad look, look (trailing space(s)), (space(s)) look.
The syntax of the below functions are OK, but it matches everything
  $match = preg_grep ("/$var/", $array);
  
  $match = preg_grep ("/^$var/",
  $array); (match words with 'look' at the start)
but when I include the [^\s], it gives an error
$match = preg_grep ("/$var[^\s]/", $array);
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '^', expecting T_STRING or T_VARIABLE 
TIA