preg_replace whitespace removal

hi, im curious if i have the below code why is my string length 1 after POST if i enter 5 spaces. should it not be null


//get rid of whitespace


$var['username'] = preg_replace('/\s\s+/', ' ', $var['username']);

$stlen = strlen($var['username']);


update: or am i just replacing it with itself basically..

would it be better this way


$var['username'] = str_replace(' ', '', $var['username']);

if someone enters any spaces i want them removed i can capture string length.

i got it i just tossed in a trim in front of the preg replace

ok i guess i need help on this it works accept for
1s2s3s4s5ssssss

(s) meaning space..
it does not remove those internal spaces..

ok i got it i used the string replace function and it passed all tests..