<?php
$Number = "888-111-2222";
 
$Pieces = explode("-", $Number);
// note "-"
// We are asking the script to break pieces from left and right side of -
// This thing determines that what is separating the parts of a whole thing
echo "Whole Number = $Number <br />";
echo "Piece 1 = $num[0]<br />";
echo "Piece 2 = $num[1]<br />";
echo "Piece 3 = $num[2]";
?>

Whole Number = 888-111-2222
Piece 1 = 888
Piece 2 = 111
Piece 3 = 2222

<?php
$animals = "cat mouse dog horse snake";
$selected = explode(" ", $animals);
// In this case our breaking point is a space and not -
// in 23423*343*7897678 the breaking point can be *
echo "All = $animals <br />";
echo "Second = $selected[1]<br />";
echo "Fourth = $selected[3]<br />";
echo "First = $selected[0]";
?>

All = cat mouse dog horse snake
Second = mouse
Fourth = horse
First = cat