Incoming variable creation - Ordering?

[winterbeef]

Folks,
2-parter here. Please use the following sample URL for reference:
"http://192.168.0.7/check.php?sample=3&sample=0"

1. Does the interpreter GUARANTEE that $sample will be set to '0' rather than '3'?

2. If the above URL was created by a GET on a form, can I GUARANTEE that the URL will be built by every browser according to source order?

Thanks much.

[[deleted]]

If your application depends on how the browser sends the data and how the webserver interprets the data, then you have a serious error in your application.

Don't expect the browser or the server to behave in a certain way, build your application so it will work no matter how the browser and webserver interpret the data.

[vsego]

I think specifications say nothing of such situation(s). Anyway, there can always be some weird browser. And if you care only about NS, IE and Opera, test it.

The true question is - why would you want to do such thing?!?

[winterbeef]

Vedran,
This technique can emulate a 'default' value being defined on the HTML, rather than in the db. This became an issue when designing a general-purpose data collection script where the html forms could be authored by individuals without scripting/db ability.

Also, designers often prefer a single checkbox rather than a pair of radio buttons, and this technique will transmit the field name whether or not the checkbox is checked.

[winterbeef]

vincent,
it's a (potential) quick n' dirty hack. see http://www.phpbuilder.com/forum/read.php3?num=2&id=160458&thread=160376, below.

[[deleted]]

In that case, wouldn't it be much more reliable to just create a hidden field with a delimited string containing name/value pairs of all the default values?

[vsego]

And then use it in combination with isset(), right?

[winterbeef]

That's a great idea.

But, just musing here, what about the original question? Can someone say, authoritatively, if there is some standard for the ordering of form vars in the request?

For all the browsers I can test ( IE 4+, NS 4.73+ ), the ordering is source order.

BTW, this question probably has nothing to do with the way I'd do this in reality, so please don't waste anymore time on this except as an intellectual frivolity. ;⁾

[[deleted]]

Something like that yes.

[[deleted]]

I really have no clue if there is any kind of standard for parsing URL strings.

I guess www.google.com can help you there.

[vsego]

Or www.w3c.org.

Please post if you find.