ignore entered text after a certain length PHP JQuery Search - php

Question

I'm using the Tutorial to create a search engine. However I want the user to be allowed to keep typing in the search but make the search ignore anything after a certain amount of text has been entered.
I see right here
include_once ('database_connection.php');//Including our DB Connection file
if(isset($_GET['keyword'])){//IF the url contains the parameter "keyword"
$keyword = trim($_GET['keyword']) ;//Remove any extra space
$keyword = mysqli_real_escape_string($dbc, $keyword);//Some validation
$query = "select topictitle,topicdescription from topics where topictitle like '%$keyword%' or topicdescription like '%$keyword%'";
//The SQL Query that will search for the word typed by the user .
$result = mysqli_query($dbc,$query);//Run the Query
if($result){//If query successfull
if(mysqli_affected_rows($dbc)!=0){//and if atleast one record is found
while($row = mysqli_fetch_array($result,MYSQLI_ASSOC)){ //Display the record
echo '<p> <b>'.$row['topictitle'].'</b> '.$row['topicdescription'].'</p>' ;
}
}else {
echo 'No Results for :"'.$_GET['keyword'].'"';//No Match found in the Database
}
}
}else {
echo 'Parameter Missing in the URL';//If URL is invalid
}
But I don't know how I can make it so after the user has typed 7 charactors let the user keep typing but ignore anything after the 7th charactor. Any help?

Answer 1

Try this
$keyword = trim($_GET['keyword']) ;//Remove any extra space
$keyword = mysqli_real_escape_string($dbc, $keyword);//Some validation
if(strlen($keyword) > 7){
$keyword = substr($keyword,0,7);//This will give you first 7 characters if the user input is greater than seven characters in length.
}

Answer 2

<?php
include_once ('database_connection.php');//Including our DB Connection file
if(isset($_GET['keyword'])){//IF the url contains the parameter "keyword"
$keyword=$_GET['keyword'];
if(strlen($_GET['keyword'])>7)
{
$keyword= substr($_GET['keyword'],0,7);
}
$keyword = trim($keyword) ;//Remove any extra space
$keyword = mysqli_real_escape_string($dbc, $keyword);//Some validation
$query = "select topictitle,topicdescription from topics where topictitle like '%$keyword%' or topicdescription like '%$keyword%'";
//The SQL Query that will search for the word typed by the user .
$result = mysqli_query($dbc,$query);//Run the Query
if($result){//If query successfull
if(mysqli_affected_rows($dbc)!=0){//and if atleast one record is found
while($row = mysqli_fetch_array($result,MYSQLI_ASSOC)){ //Display the record
echo '<p> <b>'.$row['topictitle'].'</b> '.$row['topicdescription'].'</p>' ;
}
}
else {
echo 'No Results for :"'.$_GET['keyword'].'"';//No Match found in the Database
}
}
}
else {
echo 'Parameter Missing in the URL';//If URL is invalid
}
?>