Format a string containing a count of items.

This function ensures that the string is pluralized correctly. Since t() is called by this function, make sure not to pass already-localized strings to it.

For example:

  $output = format_plural($node->comment_count, '1 comment', '@count comments');

Example with additional replacements:

  $output = format_plural($update_count,
    'Changed the content type of 1 post from %old-type to %new-type.',
    'Changed the content type of @count posts from %old-type to %new-type.',
    array('%old-type' => $info->old_type, '%new-type' => $info->new_type)));

Parameters

$count: The item count to display.

$singular: The string for the singular case. Please make sure it is clear this is singular, to ease translation (e.g. use "1 new comment" instead of "1 new"). Do not use @count in the singular string.

$plural: The string for the plural case. Please make sure it is clear this is plural, to ease translation. Use @count in place of the item count, as in "@count new comments".

$args: An associative array of replacements to make after translation. Incidences of any key in this array are replaced with the corresponding value. Based on the first character of the key, the value is escaped and/or themed:

• !variable: inserted as is
• @variable: escape plain text to HTML (check_plain)
• %variable: escape text and theme as a placeholder for user-submitted content (check_plain + theme_placeholder)

Note that you do not need to include @count in this array. This replacement is done automatically for the plural case.

$langcode: Optional language code to translate to a language other than what is used to display the page.

Return value

A translated string.

Related topics

File

drupal-6.x/includes/common.inc, line 1225

Common functions that many Drupal modules will need to reference.

Code

function format_plural($count, $singular, $plural, $args = array(), $langcode = NULL) {
  $args['@count'] = $count;
  if ($count == 1) {
    return t($singular, $args, $langcode);
  }

  // Get the plural index through the gettext formula.
  $index = (function_exists('locale_get_plural')) ? locale_get_plural($count, $langcode) : -1;
  // Backwards compatibility.
  if ($index < 0) {
    return t($plural, $args, $langcode);
  }
  else {
    switch ($index) {
      case "0":
        return t($singular, $args, $langcode);
      case "1":
        return t($plural, $args, $langcode);
      default:
        unset($args['@count']);
        $args['@count[' . $index . ']'] = $count;
        return t(strtr($plural, array('@count' => '@count[' . $index . ']')), $args, $langcode);
    }
  }
}