Create a Reusable Button Link Function

Learn how to build a reusable helper function that generates internal and external buttons dynamically with proper URL handling and target attributes.

/* set the link group function*/
function button_group($button = null, $class = null){ 
    $target = false;
    $link = "";

    if(empty($button))
    {
        return;
    }


    $internal_link = $button['button_internal_link'];
    $external_link = $button['button_external_link'];
    $link_type = $button['button_link'];
    $button_label = $button['button_label'];
    
    if($link_type == 'button_internal_link' && !empty($internal_link)){
        $link = $internal_link;
    }elseif ($link_type == 'button_external_link' && !empty($external_link)) {
        $target = true;
        $link = $external_link;        
    }
    if(empty($button_label) OR empty($link))
    {
        return;
    }

    $href_link = null;
    
    if(!empty($link) && $link != null)
    {
        if($link == '#' )
        {
            $href_link = $link;
            $target = '';
        } 
        else
        {
            $url =  trim($link);
            if (!preg_match("~^(?:f|ht)tps?://~i", $url))
            {
                $href_link= "http://" . $url;
            }
            else
            {
                $href_link = trim($link);
            }
        }
    }
    if ($class != ''){
        $class = 'class="'.$class.'"';
     }
   if ($target == true)
    {
        return '<a '.$class.' href="'.$href_link.'" target="_blank" rel="noopener">'.$button_label.'</a>';
    }
    else
    {
        return '<a '.$class.' href="'.$href_link.'">'.$button_label.'</a>';
    }
}