gistfile1.php

<?php
# What is more readible?

# version 1:

$args[] = '"'.mysql_escape_string(preg_replace("/^'(\d+)$/", '$1', $arg)).'"';


# version 2:

$a = ltrim($arg, "'");
if (is_numeric($a)) {
    $arg = $a;
}
$args[] = '"'.mysql_escape_string($arg).'"';


# version 3:

if ($arg[0] == "'") {
    $num = substr(1, $arg);
    if (is_numeric($num)) {
        $arg = $num;
    }
}
$args[] = '"'.mysql_escape_string($arg).'"';

# version 4

$a = ltrim($arg, "'");
if (is_numeric($a)) {
    $args[] = $a;
} else {
    $args[] = '"'.mysql_escape_string($arg).'"';
}
?>