What does the preg_match() function do in PHP?

The preg_match() function in PHP is specifically designed to search a string for a pattern defined by a regular expression. When you use preg_match(), you provide it with the pattern you want to search for and the target string. It then evaluates the string based on that pattern and returns a true or false value, indicating whether or not a match was found.

This is particularly useful in scenarios where you need to validate input, search for specific formats (such as email addresses, phone numbers, etc.), or extract information from text. The power of preg_match() lies in its ability to leverage regular expressions, which allow for complex and flexible pattern matching that goes beyond simple string comparisons.

The other options reference functions that perform different types of string manipulation, such as replacing patterns, splitting strings, or counting words, but they do not specifically focus on the searching aspect central to preg_match(). This distinction reinforces the unique purpose of preg_match() in handling regular expressions.