custom word count

function jnews_count_words( $str ) {
	$OUT = 0;
	$IN = 1;
	$state = $OUT;
	$wc = 0; // word count
	$i = 0;

	// Scan all characters one by one
	while ($i < strlen($str))
	{
		// If next character is
		// a separator, set the
		// state as OUT
		if ($str[$i] == " " ||
			$str[$i] == "\n" ||
			$str[$i] == "\t")
			$state = $OUT;

		// If next character is not a
		// word separator and state is
		// OUT, then set the state as
		// IN and increment word count
		else if ($state == $OUT)
		{
			$state = $IN;
			++$wc;
		}

		// Move to next character
		++$i;
	}

	return $wc;
}