Converting Numbers with Comma Decimal Points to Float

In some cases, you may encounter numeric data that uses a comma as the decimal point and a dot as the thousand separator. While common number formatting functions may not handle this format, there is a simple and efficient solution:

Using str_replace() to Reform the Number

The str_replace() function can be used to replace characters within a string. In this case, it can be used to replace the comma with a dot and the dot with an empty string, effectively converting the number to the standard decimal format.

Here's a step-by-step example:

// Input string with comma decimal and dot thousand separator
$string_number = '1.512.523,55';

// Replace comma with dot
$number = str_replace(',', '.', $string_number);

// Replace dot with empty string
$number = str_replace('.', '', $number);

// Convert to float
$float_number = floatval($number);

After executing these steps, $float_number will contain the converted float value of the original string.

Why str_replace() is not Overkill

Using str_replace() may seem like an excessive approach, but it is not. It is a simple and efficient way to manipulate the string and achieve the desired result. Alternative methods, such as custom string parsing or regular expressions, would be more complex and could potentially introduce performance issues.