Escape single quotes in string containing single and double quotes

Question

I have a PHP string that contains single and double quotes, but am having a rough time getting it escaped properly. Even tried online quotify sites, but their result errors also.

$confirmation .= '<a title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank" href="javascript: void(0)" onclick="window.open('http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmydomain.com%2Fquiz%2F','sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=548,height=325');" class="">Share on Facebook</a>';

I don't think the double quotes need to be escaped. Still, all of my attempts result in HTTP 500 when loading the page.

How do the single quotes inside this string get escaped?

First, get [php errors to display](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1053424/how-do-i-get-php-errors-to-display) — FirstOne, Jul 28 '16 at 21:01

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 28 '16 at 21:04

To escape nested quotes in PHP, use the \

 $confirmation .= '<a title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank" href="javascript: void(0)" onclick="window.open(\'http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmydomain.com%2Fquiz%2F\',\'sharer\',\'toolbar=0,status=0,width=548,height=325\');" class="">Share on Facebook</a>';

For a complicated case with lots of quotes, it may be more readable and practical to use a heredoc:

$confirmation .= <<<EOT
  <a title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="window.open('http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmydomain.com%2Fquiz%2F','sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=548,height=325');" class="">Share on Facebook</a>
EOT;

You are correct. The code is in functions.php - I had another window open in my editor and got totally confused - twice. :S It is PHP. — rwkiii, Jul 28 '16 at 21:18
YAY for heredoc Could not agree more, for convoluted vars where lots of escaping would be needed, heredoc syntax is the way to go. — Duane Lortie, Jul 28 '16 at 21:20

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 28 '16 at 21:05

0

$confirmation .= '<a title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank" href="javascript: void(0)" onclick="window.open(\'http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmydomain.com%2Fquiz%2F\',\'sharer\',\'toolbar=0,status=0,width=548,height=325\');" class="">Share on Facebook</a>';

answered Jul 28 '16 at 21:05

Jacob Manser

122
6

Both of the answers on this post look correct to me. I tried escaping them just like your and Brandon's examples, but with no success. – rwkiii Jul 28 '16 at 21:14
`PHP Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '< – rwkiii Jul 28 '16 at 21:17
1

Did you use 3 – Brandon Horsley Jul 28 '16 at 21:18
Yes I did: `$confirmation .= << – rwkiii Jul 28 '16 at 21:20
You should update your question with new sections, show what you tried and the output. – Brandon Horsley Jul 28 '16 at 21:21
2

@rwkiii - you can NOT have any spaces after the `<< – random_user_name Jul 28 '16 at 21:23
1

@cale_b You nailed it - I had a space at the end of the `<< – rwkiii Jul 28 '16 at 21:31

Escape single quotes in string containing single and double quotes

2 Answers2

Linked