PHP iconv_strlen() Function: Usage and Examples

Use iconv_strlen() when you need to counts characters in text using a selected character encoding in a PHP application. The examples below show the actual operation and its limitations.

What Is iconv_strlen() in PHP?

Counts characters in text using a selected character encoding. The exact signature supported by your installation depends on its PHP version and enabled extensions.

Its syntax is:

iconv_strlen(string $string, ?string $encoding = ...): int|false

Parameters and return value: The parameter types, optional arguments, references, and return type are shown in the signature above. Optional parameters are marked with an ellipsis in this reference signature.

Example 1: Basic Usage

<?php

echo iconv_strlen("café","UTF-8");

Output:

4

Example 2: Different Input or Behavior

<?php

echo iconv_strlen("Hello","UTF-8");

Output:

5

Practical Example: Applying the Function

<?php

$labels = ["café","Résumé"]; foreach ($labels as $label) echo iconv_strlen($label,"UTF-8") . PHP_EOL;

Output:

4
6

Important Behavior and Edge Cases

strlen() counts bytes; invalid input can make iconv_strlen() fail.

Comparison With Related Functions

Common Beginner Mistakes

Key Takeaways

• Counts characters in text using a selected character encoding.
• strlen() counts bytes; invalid input can make iconv_strlen() fail.
• mb_strlen() counts characters with mbstring; iconv_strlen() uses iconv.

Use iconv_strlen() for the specific operation demonstrated above. Check its prerequisites and handle failure conditions before using it with production data.