Extract words between two words with regex

Question

I have a string:

8 nights you doodle poodle

I wish to retrieve every thing between nights and poodle, so in the above example, the output should be you doodle.

I'm using the below regex. Please can someone point out what I may be doing wrong?

if (preg_match("nights\s(.*)\spoodle", "8 nights you doodle poodle", $matches1)) {
    echo $matches1[0]."<br />"; 
}

Solution

You're close, but you're accessing the wrong index on $matches1. $matches1[0] will return the string that matched in preg_match();

Try $matches1[1];

Also, you need to enclose your regex in / characters;

if (preg_match("/nights\s(.*)\spoodle/", "8 nights you doodle poodle", $matches1)) {
    echo $matches1[1]."<br />"; 
}

Output

you doodle<br />

Comments

[FlyingGuy]

Smells way to much like homework. Go and learn regex. Yes I know it is hard, but once you grok what all those weird match strings are about the better of you will be as a programmer.

[Jared Farrish]

@FlyingGuy - Homework questions are ok, as long as they are labeled homework.

[Nick Rolando]

If it was, I wouldn't have posted my answer.

[maček]

@Shredder, your answer is rubbish anyway.