[RESOLVED] php. can it do this?

dariuc

within javascript you can use nodes to prnt text onto a page without refreshing it.
does php have that same capability? if so where or what subject might i look up to study up on it?

a little background with the trouble im having is that im creating a browser based game. the whole site is done in php EXCEPT the javascript that prints the nodes on a certain page.

my problem is that i am unable to use php functions with javascript functions.

for instance. attack a monster.. and it calls the hit() function. i would need to use javascript to update the page with a new node. and the hit function would be the part written in php.

if anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

recap: can i call two seperate functions from two different languages on the same button click and if so how?

recap2: if i can't do the above, is it possible to do all of this using only PHP?

NogDog

First realize that PHP runs on the server, JavaScript runs on the client (browser). PHP can only have a (more or less) direct effect on what the browser displays via the text that it outputs (be in HTML, JavaScript, or XML), which the browser then interprets and visually renders accordingly.

However, there is a capability within JavaScript to send HTTP requests for a web page, including PHP pages, receive the result from that request, and then change the page rendering as desired based on the response. This is generally referred to as "AJAX", making it sound like something separate, but ultimately is really just the use of a few JavaScript functions in conjunction with whatever you want it to call on the server.

Do some Googling on "AJAX and PHP" and you should find all sorts of tutorials, explanations, along with the usual junk and bad advice you normally find on the web. 😉

dariuc

okay. i'll look into it. thanks. i understood that about php. basically all i need is to call some php functions and some javascript functions at the same time. they are client side functions that won't be affecting the server

sneakyimp

You need to read nogdog's post again. PHP runs on the server. If you want to run a PHP function, it's going to run on the server.

dariuc

all php doesn't have to interact with a server. php has support for objects.

i plan to load info from the server into an object and then use the functions for that object.

hence it being clientside

Kudose

Unless you are creating JavaScript using PHP, you're not going to be able to use the objects.

Once the file is parsed and handed to the web service for transmission, PHP's job is done.

PHP simply does not and can not interact with the browser like JavaScript does.

dariuc

i got that part. understood perfectly clear. i know u can't use javascript with the php.

is there some sort of way that i could transfer the values of variables between the languages?

for instance set a jscript variable to the value of a php variable by using session vars or perhaps post or get

Kudose

As NogDog mentioned, Ajax is what you need.

You can have JS call a PHP page and work with the returned data.

sneakyimp

You can write a php script to echo stuff like:

<script type="text/javascript">
  var myVar = 'foobar';
</script>

so you can easily get PHP data into the javascript that lives in a user's browser. What is more difficult is to have javascript send information back to PHP without reloading the whole page. This is what AJAX does for you.

dariuc

ive been looking over some ajax tutorials since last nite. appreciate the input.

sneakyimp

Consider using jquery. It will change your life. They have an ajax plugin/extension type thing.