$_REQUEST PHP

Superglobal variables are important facilitators on programming when using the PHP language. For example, the $_REQUEST array that stores information of three other superglobal variables: $ _GET, $ _set and $ _POST.

The variables available in $ _REQUEST array are available via request input mechanisms, POST, and COOKIE, and may be modified by a remote user. Thus, there is a need to validate the information and treat it. The presence and order of variables listed in this array is defined according to the PHP configuration directive variables_order.

Despite using the same input mechanisms, the variable $ _REQUEST is different from the $ _GET and $ _POST. Thus, when handling them at runtime, the variable $ _REQUEST is not modified:

<?php

$_GET[‘foo’] = ‘a’;
$_POST[‘bar’] = ‘b’;
var_dump ($ _ GET); // The element ‘foo’ returns the string ‘a’ in the $ _GET

var_dump ($ _ POST); // The ‘bar’ element returns the string ‘a’ in the $ _POST

var_dump ($ _ REQUEST); // None of the elements contained in the variable $ _REQUEST

From the type of request, you can then find the element positioned in the array and use it after, as shown in the following example:

<?php
if ($_SERVER[“REQUEST_METHOD”] == “POST”) {

$name = $_REQUEST[‘fname’];
if (empty($name)) {
echo “No stored name.”;
} else {
echo “The stored name is: “.$name;
}
}
?>

After identified the type of request, the variable $name takes the value of the position. In the example, the position value ‘fname’ is recovered. From this, the validation is done by printing their name, if it is not empty.

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