I have a huge form with inputs of type (text, checkboxes, hidden et). The content of the form inputs are taken from a database. The user has to make some changes and to save the data back into the db.
At this moment I'm using a function which has a foreach($_POST as $key=>$value)
loop. As you know, there are problems with post method:
- can't make refresh,
- can't go backwards.
I'll like to use $_GET
method, but the length of my variables and values are bigger than 2000 characters.
Do you have any advice for me, about what can I do? Maybe there are some tricks in using $_GET
. Maybe i didn't understand how to use it right?
There is absolutely nothing wrong in POST itself. You just have to use it properly
An HTTP standard says you ought to make a GET redirect after receiving POST request.
So, as easy code as this
header("Location: ".$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']);
exit;
after processing your form will solve all your "problems"
in case you want to handle post errors, you can use POST/Redirect/GET pattern.
However it does not redirect on error, the problems you mentioned becoming negligible.
here is a concise example of it:
<?
if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD']=='POST') {
//processing the form
$err = array();
//performing all validations and raising corresponding errors
if (empty($_POST['name']) $err[] = "Username field is required";
if (empty($_POST['text']) $err[] = "Comments field is required";
if (!$err) {
//if no errors - saving data and redirect
header("Location: ".$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']);
exit;
} else {
// all field values should be escaped according to HTML standard
foreach ($_POST as $key => $val) {
$form[$key] = htmlspecialchars($val);
}
} else {
$form['name'] = $form['comments'] = '';
}
include 'form.tpl.php';
?>
on error it will show the form back. but after successful form submit it will redirect as well.
Use the Post/Redirect/Get pattern.
As far as loop processing goes, the foreach loop contruct in PHP makes a copy of the array you are working on. If you want to process $_POST with a different loop construct (for / while) and use functions like count(), current(), reset(), next(), prev(), end(), each(), or key(), have at it.
Programming PHP: Chapter 5, p. 128-129