filter_var

gistfile1.php

<?php
// http://uk.php.net/manual/en/filter.filters.php

// validate
// http://uk.php.net/manual/en/filter.filters.validate.php
$var = filter_var($email, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL);
$var = filter_var($code, FILTER_VALIDATE_INT); 

// sanitize
// http://uk.php.net/manual/en/filter.filters.sanitize.php
$var = filter_var($url, FILTER_SANITIZE_URL);