Convert integer into X characters string in PHP [duplicate]

Question

I have an integer that I need to convert into a 4 digits string. I know the integer number is between 1 and 9999. If the number is 4, I want the output string to be "0004". If the number is 134, I need the string output as "0134" and so on.

What would be the shortest most elegant way of achieving this in PHP? Thank you.

Answer 1

I would use sprintf():

$string = sprintf( "%04d", $number);

Using this demo:

foreach( array( 4, 134) as $number) {
    $string = sprintf( "%04d", $number);
    echo $string . "\n";
}

You get as output:

0004
0134