PHP Form Handling

Introduction to PHP Form Handling

Forms are a fundamental part of web applications, allowing users to submit data that can be processed by a server. PHP offers a straightforward way to handle form data using GET and POST methods. This guide will help you understand how to manage form data using PHP's $_REQUEST superglobal.

Understanding GET and POST Methods

The GET method appends form data to the URL in name/value pairs. It's best suited for non-sensitive data as the data is visible in the URL. On the other hand, the POST method sends data in the HTTP request body, making it ideal for sensitive information as it is not visible in the URL.

Accessing Form Data with $_REQUEST

The $_REQUEST superglobal variable in PHP is used to collect data sent from both GET and POST methods. It is a convenient way to access all form data, though it may include cookies as well, depending on the PHP configuration.

Creating a Simple PHP Form

Let's create a simple HTML form that uses the POST method to submit data. This form will include fields for a user's name and email address. When the form is submitted, PHP will process the input using the $_REQUEST variable.

Handling Form Submission

Upon form submission, PHP processes the data using the $_REQUEST array. The form's action attribute uses PHP's htmlspecialchars() function to avoid security risks like XSS by escaping special characters. This ensures the page safely handles the input data.

Conclusion

PHP provides powerful tools for handling form submissions through the $_REQUEST variable, allowing you to access GET and POST data efficiently. Understanding how to properly retrieve and handle this data is crucial for developing secure and functional web applications.