php - How to make sure a string contains more then automatically inputed defaults? -

i have input form create customfield name, when page loads textbox automatically filled "cst_".

i preset value in class:

class customfield{      // define properties     public $id = 0;     public $groupid;     public $name = 'cst_';     public $displayname;     public $type;     public $defaultvalue;     public $required;     public $ordercount;     ... 

when go save fields on page, check make sure user has imputed more values leaving "cst_"

i simply:

// check "cst_" if(strlen($customfield->name > 4)){      // save     $customfield->save();  }else{ noticeset(1,'please add name');noticeset(1,strlen($customfield->name));} 

in textbox added cst_water hardness error

please add name

18

i don't understand how failing @ if statement

i've added noticeset before if statement , shows 18.

is there better way see if user has added more "cst_"?

you have parentheses out of place end ($customfield->name > 4) results in false. expression ends if(strlen(false)) no good. fix with:

if(strlen($customfield->name) > 4){ 

if cst_ must present, maybe:

if(strpos($customfield->name, 'cst_') === 0 && strlen($customfield->name) > 4){ 

or shorter slower:

if(preg_match('/cst_.+/', $customfield->name)) {