Detect language from string in PHP

Detecting the language of a text string in PHP can be achieved using specialized libraries. While character-based detection isn't reliable, the Text_LanguageDetect PEAR package provides decent accuracy for language identification.

Installation: Install the Text_LanguageDetect package using PEAR:

pear install Text_LanguageDetect

Using Text_LanguageDetect Package

The Text_LanguageDetect package analyzes text patterns to identify the most likely languages ?

<?php
require_once 'Text/LanguageDetect.php';

$text = "Hello, this is a sample English text for language detection.";

$detector = new Text_LanguageDetect();
$result = $detector->detect($text, 4);

if (PEAR::isError($result)) {
    echo $result->getMessage();
} else {
    print_r($result);
}
?>

Output

The output shows detected languages with confidence scores ?

Array
(
    [english] => 0.668518518519
    [german] => 0.407037037037
    [dutch] => 0.288065843621
    [danish] => 0.234526748971
)

Key Features

Conclusion

The Text_LanguageDetect package offers a simple solution for language detection in PHP with good accuracy for Western languages. However, consider alternative libraries for comprehensive multilingual support including Asian languages.