how to split url in php

<?php
list($user, $pass, $uid, $gid, $extra) =
    split(":", $passwd_line, 5);
?>

<?php
$url = 'http://www.example.com/news?q=string&f=true&id=1233&sort=true';

$values = parse_url($url);

$host = explode('.',$values['host']);

echo $host[1];

?>