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Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2021 19:15:45 +0500
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Subject: Introduce str_left/right In 8.1
From: office.hamzaahmad@gmail.com ("Hamza Ahmad")

Hello Internals,

Since feature freeze for 8.1 is approaching, I want to request two useful
string functions that exist in various languages-especially those that run
on web servers and used in databases. These are respectively `left();` and
`right();`

Whether it is VBScript or MySQL, these two functions are available there.
When I learnt PHP more than half a decade ago, I wondered why PHP had no
functions that provide the same functionality as these two languages
provide.

Although both of these functions can be created in the userland, I request
to build them in core for the following reasons:
1. They are standard functions in various languages. This article
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_programming_languages_(string_f
unctions)#left>, available on Wikipedia, compares various languages in
regard to string functions and recognizes left and right functions as a
general term to make sense of the attitude of these functions.
2. To achieve the effect of these functions, one needs to use `substr();`.
If these functions are introduced, it will be clear on the readers' level
the actual purpose of the use of that string function.
3. There may be libraries that provide with the similar functionality; why
not add this popular function to the core and make it available for everyone
to use? IT will not require people to include such heavy libraries to their
projects for such little and useful functions.
4. In the recent versions, PHP did include "str_contains", "str_ends_with",
"str_starts_with", "array_key_first", and "array_key_last" functions. All of
these functions are buildable in the userland, yet they have managed to make
place to the core because of their popularity. Why not these two functions?

If one has issues with the name choice, this is something that can be
discussed.

This request also takes inspiration from Kim Hallberg's proposal for
`clamp();` function. His email encouraged me to put my word on the table.

I am positive that senior developers would provide me with the feedback on
my suggestion. I am also positive that my request will be added to 8.1. I
thank you all for reading through my message and dropping a word.

Best Regards

Hamza Ahmad