Arrays as global session vars

[moews]

I am trying to code a site that will access an array stored in the session. All I get is errors saying, "undefined index:a_items"

<?php

session_start();
$item = $_SESSION['a_items'];
$item = $item["greg"];

?>

I don't register the variable because everywhere it says it is not required. I'm curious if it is the coding that isn't working or if my php isn't configured correctly. I just installed php today so I don't know.

thx.

[Weedpacket]

The setting in PHP's config that's giving you grief is the error reporting level. Don't change it, because it's helping you become a better programmer by being suitably paranoid (you're coding for the Web, and there are a lot of weird people out there).

It's giving you notice that you're using the value of $SESSION['a_items'] when $SESSION['a_items'] doesn't have a value. PHP will go ahead, but it can be risky in the real world. The general principle in this case: never use a variable without first making sure it's got a value.

Just check to see if $SESSION['a_items'] etc. are set before using them:

if(isset($_SESSION['a_items']))
    $item = $_SESSION['a_items'];

Your three lines could become

session_start();
if(isset($_SESSION['a_items']['greg']))
  $item = $_SESSION['a_items']['greg'];