cookies and arrays in php
How to store and retreive arrays using cookies with php:
The first step is to turn the array into a string with each array value seperated by a delimiter. I usually choose an unusual delimiter character such as a vertical bar, as the array values are more likely to contain characters such as comma or slashes. Example:
//set the array $my_arr = array(); $my_arr[0] = "blue"; $my_arr[1] = "red"; $my_arr[2] = "green"; //create the list for the cookie $cookie_content = ""; foreach($my_arr as $key => $value){ $cookie_content .= $value . "|";} //trim the last | from the end $cookie_content = substr($cookie_content, 0, -1);
This will give the variable '$cookie_content' the value 'blue|red|green'. The next step is to create the cookie:
//setting the cookie setcookie("CookieName", $cookie_content, time()+3600); /* expires in 1 hour */
More info about setting cookies can be found on the php.net website. Ok, so the third and final part is to retreive the array data back from the cookie:
//turn cookie data back into array if (isset($_COOKIE['CookieName'])) { $my_cookie_arr = explode("|", $_COOKIE['CookieName']);
The new array '$my_cookie_arr' will now include the same values as the original array '$my_arr'.
Blend your own recipe….
$a = array(’bg’=>’red’,'tx’=>’blue’,'lk’=>’green’);
print_r($a);
$b = implode(”|”,array(’red’,'blue’,'green’));
print_r($b);
$c = explode(”|”,$b);
print_r($c);