php Replacing multiple spaces with a single space

Use preg_replace() and instead of [ \t\n\r] use \s:

$output = preg_replace('!\s+!', ' ', $input);

From Regular Expression Basic Syntax Reference:

\d, \w and \s

Shorthand character classes matching digits, word characters (letters, digits, and underscores), and whitespace (spaces, tabs, and line breaks). Can be used inside and outside character classes.

$output = preg_replace('/\s+/', ' ',$input);

\s is shorthand for [ \t\n\r]. Multiple spaces will be replaced with single space.