- str_repeat: documentation ( source)
<?php
$max_chars = 7;
for($num_stars = 1; $num_stars <= $max_chars; $num_stars += 2) {
$dashes = ($max_chars - $num_stars) / 2;
echo str_repeat('-', $dashes); // Print L dashes
echo str_repeat('*', $num_stars); // Print starts
echo str_repeat('-', $dashes); // Print R dashes
echo "\n";
}