How to make this search engine work with subsrt_count? - php

Question

So, i've been working on making a search engine without the use of a database. What it's supposed to do is find the word searched for in the webpage and automatically give it's link. Here's it's code:
<?php
session_start();
$searchInput = $_POST['search'];
$inputPage1 = $_SESSION['pOneText'];
$inputPage2 = isset($_SESSION['pTwoText']) ? $_SESSION['pTwoText'] : "";
$inputPage3 = isset($_SESSION['pThreeText']) ? $_SESSION['pThreeText'] : "";
$fUrl = file_get_contents("mDummyP.php");
$sUrl = file_get_contents("sDummyP.php");
$tUrl = file_get_contents("tDummyP.php");
if (substr_count($fUrl, $searchInput) !== false) {
echo "All results for <strong> $searchInput </strong> : <br>" ;
} elseif (substr_count($sUrl, $searchInput) !== false) {
echo "All results for <strong> $searchInput </strong> : <br>";
} elseif (substr_count($tUrl, $searchInput) !== false) {
echo "All results for <strong> $searchInput </strong> : <br>";
} else {
echo "No resulst for <strong> $searchInput </strong>! ";
}
?>
However, it never checks if the word actually exists or not, it always returns "all results for". So, i was wondering if anyone knew why or had suggestions to improve it. Keep in mind that it will never be used professionally, it's just to test my abilities. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

You need to look at the php manual for substr_count
Return Values
This function returns an integer.
Thus it will ALWAYS go into this first if block:
if (substr_count($fUrl, $searchInput) !== false) {
because the return value of substr_count is only ever an integer and is NEVER going to be false - your code is checking for the exact value and type of false.
Furthermore, apart from the else block, all of the statements are just echo'ing the exact same string so you will not see any differentiation of output if execution did go into the if or elseif blocks. See below to get you on the right track:
$searchInput = 'some';
$fUrl = 'this is test file text';
$sUrl = 'this is some other text';
$tUrl = 'extra text';
if (substr_count($fUrl, $searchInput) !== 0) {
echo "a";
} elseif (substr_count($sUrl, $searchInput) !== 0) {
echo "b";
} elseif (substr_count($tUrl, $searchInput) !== 0) {
echo "c";
} else {
echo "No resulst for <strong> $searchInput </strong>! ";
}