$get and $post variables in php with syntax and examples
In PHP, $_GET and $_POST are superglobal variables used to access data sent to the server through HTTP requests.
Syntax:
- $_GET: $_GET['variable_name']
- $_POST: $_POST['variable_name']
Examples:
1. $_GET: Retrieves data from the URL query string.
Example:
// URL: (link unavailable)?name=John&age=30
echo $_GET['name']; // outputs "John"
echo $_GET['age']; // outputs "30"
1. $_POST: Retrieves data from the request body (typically used with forms).
Example:
// HTML Form:
<form method="post">
<input type="text" name="name">
<input type="number" name="age">
<button type="submit">Submit</button>
</form>
// PHP:
echo $_POST['name']; // outputs the submitted name value
echo $_POST['age']; // outputs the submitted age value
Key differences:
- $_GET:
- Data is visible in the URL query string.
- Limited data size (typically 2048 bytes).
- Suitable for retrieving data, not sending sensitive information.
- $_POST:
- Data is hidden from the URL.
- Larger data size limit (typically 8MB).
- Suitable for sending sensitive information, like passwords or large data.
Best Practices:
1. Use $_GET for retrieving non-sensitive data.
2. Use $_POST for sending sensitive data or large amounts of data.
3. Validate and sanitize user input data.
4. Use isset() to check if a variable is set before accessing it.
5. Use empty() to check if a variable is empty before accessing it.
6. Avoid using $_GET or $_POST for storing sensitive data.
By understanding the differences between $_GET and $_POST, you can effectively handle user input data and create secure, robust applications.