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Passing variables between pages with PHP

Passing variables between pages with PHP

Let’s assume a PHP variable `$foo` on `page1.php`. There is a form on this page which posts on `page2.php`. Since HTTP is stateless, webpages are disconnected and this implies that `page2.php` won’t be aware of the existence of `page1.php` or any data thereof. However, `page2.php` can still access the variables from the `page1.php` script using the methods discussed here.

Sessions

Sessions store data on the server for access between php scripts on different web-pages.

// Page 1
session_start();
$_SESSION['foo'] = $foo;

// Page 2
session_start();
$foo = $_SESSION['foo'];

It’s important to note that the `session_start` line must be used prior to using the `$_SESSION` superglobal.

Cookies

Cookies differ from sessions in that they store the data on the client, instead of the server, and therfore are relatively un-safe.

// Page 1
setcookie('foo', $foo);

// Page 2
$foo = $_COOKIE['foo'];

Cookies maybe preferred over sessions in situations where data needs to persist. However, it’s possible to avoid cookies by storing the data in a database and retrieving it using an id or username.

GET and POST

The variable can either be added as a *GET* parameter in the link to Page 2 :

<a href=”page2.php?foo=<?php echo urlencode($foo);?>”>Go to Page 2</a>

Or, a hidden field can be created in a form that posts to Page 2 :

<form method="post" action="page2.php">
<input type="hidden" name="foo" value=<?php echo $foo;?>>
<input type="submit"
</form>

Then, on Page 2 the variables can be retrieved as :

// GET method
$foo = $_GET['foo'];

// POST method
$foo = $_POST['foo'];

// GET, POST or COOKIE
$foo = $_REQUEST['foo'];

Both methods, GET and POST, are insecure because it’s possible to tamper with this data before sending it to the server.

References

  1. session_start
  2. .$_SESSION
  3. setcookie
  4. $_COOKIE
  5. $_GET
  6. HTML Forms

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