accessing a variable using $_REQUEST even if it not exist

pelegk2

in asp when i access a variable that was sent to the server
i dont have to check if it exist or not i just can try to access and if it dosent exist
i get notjing back

is it possible in php so i will not have to use isset() every time?
thnaks in advance
peleg

nightowl

sure - why not ?

pelegk2

beacuse when i truy to do
$_REQUEST['varThatWasntSentTOServer']
i recive and error
so how to do it?

nightowl

you may need to lower your error settings - PHP will generate a 'notice' which is the lowest form of error and can safely be ignored.

otherwise it's not possible.

Weedpacket

You could test $REQUEST['foo'] to see if it exists, and, if it doesn't, set it to some other value

if(!isset($_REQUEST['foo'])) $_REQUEST['foo'] = '0';

or generate an error message to send back to the user.

Certainly you should be testing your form variables; the sensible time would be when you're doing your other form validation - to make sure that variables you need are being supplied, and that they only contain valid data.

pelegk2

i know that
i wantedto avoid doing that 🙂

Weedpacket

Originally posted by pelegk2
i know that
i wantedto avoid doing that 🙂

But like I said, you should be doing that. Basic defensive programming. Notices were switched on to encourage you to do that. If you insist, read nightowl's post.

Drakla

You could put an 'at' in front of the variable to suppress the error message like

$terry=@$_REQUEST['nutkins'];

If the variable isn't set you'll just end up with nothing. I use this all the time in if statements checking for input because I'm too lazy to type isset

if( @$_REQUEST['getridofit'] )
{
}

and all that.

pelegk2

thanks
PEleg