get_characters.php

<?php

/**
 * Get a specified number of characters from the start of a string.
 * Avoids breaking mid-word.
 */
function get_characters(string $string, int $length = 10)
{
    if (mb_strlen($string) <= $length) {
        return $string;
    }

    $regex = '/^.{1,' . $length . '}\b/s';
    preg_match($regex, $string, $match);
    return trim($match[0]) . '…';
}