Global variables question

billgod

I have been writing in PHP for years. I never had to do things the proper way until this project I am working on. What is the correct way to pass variables from 1 page to another. for instance. If I pull 10 rows from a database that creates 10 links to the same page but with different variables. How SHOULD I pass this? I currently do something like

<a href="blah.php?myvar=19">click here</a>

I know passing variables in the url is not a good thing to do. I am just not sure how I should do this.

Kudose

Passing variables in the URL is fine as long as you are sure to encode special characters and to validate the incoming data. The other alternatives would be to post the data to the next page, use sessions or to use cookies.

Google uses a query string for it's searches ... http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=php&aq=f&aqi=&oq=&fp=e8d6ef47431c6a4a

They are just using a URL rewriter to hide it.

big_nerd

billgod,

I would recommend using sessions.

In short:

<?php
// at top of file where you wish to READ or WRITE this data
session_start();

// .. code code
$whatIKeep = array('big.nerd' => 'geek', 'php' => 'good');
$_SESSION['keepme'] = $whatIKeep;
?>

Then on the page where you wish to get that data back:

<?php
// at top of file where you wish to READ or WRITE this data
session_start(); // ALWAYS

// .. code code

$whatIKeep = $_SESSION['keepme'];
print_r ($whatIKeep)
// output:  array('big.nerd' => 'geek', 'php' => 'good');
?>

If you follow the sessions link you can look through the manual to find session best-practices as they do present their own issues.

Best of luck!

billgod

That is what I am looking for. Just was not sure what it was even referred to as to look it up.

Thanks

Bill

Kudose

I think it should be noted that you are not required to put session_start at the top of the file. You are only required to call session_start before accessing the session data or sending output to the browser.