<?php
 
/**
 * Cut text to specific length.
 *
 * @param string $str The text to cut.
 * @param int $limit The maximum number of characters that must be returned.
 * @param stirng $br_char The character to use for breaking the string.
 * @param string $pad The string to use at the end of the cutted string.
 * @return string
 */
function cut_text($str, $limit, $br_char = '', $pad = '...')
{
    if (strlen($str) <= $limit) return $str;
 
    if ($br_char === '') return substr($str, 0, $limit) . $pad;
 
    return substr($str, 0, strrpos(substr($str, 0, $limit), $br_char)) . $pad;
}
 
$text1 = 'Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut laboredo.';
 
// Normal usage:
printf('%s<br>', cut_text($text1, 20)); 
 
// Using an space for break the string:
printf('%s<br>', cut_text($text1, 20, ' '));