$n = '9';
if (ctype_alpha($n) || is_numeric($n))
echo "yes<br />";
else
echo "no<br />";
$n = 'a';
if (ctype_alpha($n) || is_numeric($n))
echo "yes<br />";
else
echo "no<br />";
$n = '@';
if (ctype_alpha($n) || is_numeric($n))
echo "yes<br />";
else
echo "no<br />";
/*
run:
yes
yes
no
*/