Re: How to convert a string into a mathematical expression?

This would depend on the format. For example, it can't calculate "x", as its not defined in PHP. However, you sould be able to do something like: eval("\$math = $expression;"); ...and it should work. The main problem with this is that unless you can 100% trust the user who's inputing data, its a major security problem. If you can't, you'd have to develop your own parser for processing the data. /* Chris Lambert, CTO - chris@whitecrown.net WhiteCrown Networks - More Than White Hats Web Application Security - www.whitecrown.net */ ----- Original Message ----- From: Christodoulou Demetris <christdm@ceid.upatras.gr> To: <php-general@lists.php.net> Sent: Friday, July 13, 2001 7:09 AM Subject: [PHP] How to convert a string into a mathematical expression? Hi list. I have string variables that contain mathematical expressions. These strings are submitted through forms. For example if a user inserts the following-> 1+cos(0.3)*x into a text field with name expression in an HTML form then what i get on the server is the string variable $expression whose values is "1+cos(0.3)*x" Is there a way to convert the string variable, $expression, into a mathematical expression that can be calculated? Thanks in advance. DX.