Auto setting variables from an array.

[bluegray]

Hello!

 

So I make myself an array by writing:

$input = $_POST['create'] ;

 

and on a var_dump() the array looks something like:

array(6) { 
["account"]=>  string(7) "woo hoo" 
["pass"]=>  string( "security" 
["pass2"]=>  string( "security" 
["name_first"]=>  string(3) "Dan" 
["name_last"]=>  string(5) "Tayle" 
["Email"]=>  string(14) "snotme@him.com" 
} 

 

Okay so to the point.  I need to assign these values to variables by the names of the keys.  What I've tried so far has failed, and here it is:

function inputis ($data) {
if(!isset($data)) {
    $input = array();
} else {
	$input = isset($data)?$data:null ;

	$tmp = array();

	foreach ($input as $k => $v) {
		$tmp[] = "$". $k . ' = ' . "'" . $v . "'" ;
		} 

$results = $tmp ;
return $results ;
} 	
}

 

The var_dump() there looks like what I need, it doesn't seem to actually assign the variables.  What's the best thing to do from here?

[kenrbnsn]

You need variable variables

<?php
$input = $_POST['create'];
foreach ($input as $k => $v) {
   $$k = $v;
}
?>

 

Ken

[bluegray]

You need variable variables

<?php
$input = $_POST['create'];
foreach ($input as $k => $v) {
   $$k = $v;
}
?>

 

Ken

 

Hey Ken, 

 

So I tried this in the main file and it worked.  But when I tried to implement the foreach () loop in a function the variables weren't being recognized.  I kept getting an undefined variable error. 

 

Do you know how I would alter the code you provided so it works from a user defined function?

[Alex]

You need variable variables

<?php
$input = $_POST['create'];
foreach ($input as $k => $v) {
   $$k = $v;
}
?>

 

Ken

 

Or you could use extract to get the same effect.

 

If you're using this on the $_POST array, or any other input array for that matter, it's essentially recreating register_globals, which is a huge security risk.

[bluegray]

 

Or you could use extract to get the same effect.

 

If you're using this on the $_POST array, or any other input array for that matter, it's essentially recreating register_globals, which is a huge security risk.

 

Simply saying extract () gets the same effect doesn't provide much in terms of context to try it out with. 

 

When you say "this" in "If you're using this..." what is "this?" Then, what are register_globals, and why are they a security risk?

 

If that's all in reference to the earlier mentioned extract (), are you saying I shouldn't use it?  Why mention it if it's so risky?

[Alex]

You shouldn't use it on input variables because then anyone can inject unwanted variables into your script. Say you used it on the $_GET array. Someone accessed your website like file.php?auth=1, and in your code you happen to have a security check to see if($auth){ ... }.

 

This is what register_globals (http://us3.php.net/manual/en/ini.core.php#ini.register-globals) does. extract does have its uses sometimes, but in this case it's not something that you should use. Here's an article that explains the problems that register_globals creates, http://us3.php.net/manual/en/security.globals.php