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PHP Cookies

Cookies are small files stored on a user's computer that identify the user each time they visit a website. PHP allows you to create, retrieve, modify, and delete cookie values using the setcookie() function. Sessions are similar to cookies but store data on the server rather than the user's computer, making them safer for storing sensitive information. Sessions are started with the session_start() function and use the global $_SESSION variable to set and access values across multiple pages.

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gopivanam
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125 views

PHP Cookies

Cookies are small files stored on a user's computer that identify the user each time they visit a website. PHP allows you to create, retrieve, modify, and delete cookie values using the setcookie() function. Sessions are similar to cookies but store data on the server rather than the user's computer, making them safer for storing sensitive information. Sessions are started with the session_start() function and use the global $_SESSION variable to set and access values across multiple pages.

Uploaded by

gopivanam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHP Cookies

What is a Cookie?

A cookie is often used to identify a user. A cookie is a small file that the server embeds on the user's computer.
Each time the same computer requests a page with a browser, it will send the cookie too. With PHP, you can
both create and retrieve cookie values.

Create Cookies With PHP

A cookie is created with the setcookie() function.

Syntax setcookie(name, value, expire, path, domain, secure, httponly);

Only the name parameter is required. All other parameters are optional.

PHP Create/Retrieve a Cookie

The following example creates a cookie named "user" with the value "John Doe". The cookie will expire after
30 days (86400 * 30). The "/" means that the cookie is available in entire website (otherwise, select the
directory you prefer).

We then retrieve the value of the cookie "user" (using the global variable $_COOKIE). We also use the
isset() function to find out if the cookie is set:

Example

<?php
$cookie_name = "user";
$cookie_value = "John Doe";
setcookie($cookie_name, $cookie_value, time() + (86400 * 30), "/"); // 86400 = 1 day
?>
<html>
<body>
<?php
if(!isset($_COOKIE[$cookie_name])) {
    echo "Cookie named '" . $cookie_name . "' is not set!";
} else {
    echo "Cookie '" . $cookie_name . "' is set!<br>";
    echo "Value is: " . $_COOKIE[$cookie_name];
}
?>

</body>
</html>

Note: The setcookie() function must appear BEFORE the <html> tag.
Note: The value of the cookie is automatically URLencoded when sending the cookie, and automatically
decoded when received (to prevent URLencoding, use setrawcookie() instead).

Modify a Cookie Value

To modify a cookie, just set (again) the cookie using the setcookie() function:

Example

<?php
$cookie_name = "user";
$cookie_value = "Alex Porter";
setcookie($cookie_name, $cookie_value, time() + (86400 * 30), "/");
?>
<html>
<body>

<?php
if(!isset($_COOKIE[$cookie_name])) {
    echo "Cookie named '" . $cookie_name . "' is not set!";
} else {
    echo "Cookie '" . $cookie_name . "' is set!<br>";
    echo "Value is: " . $_COOKIE[$cookie_name];
}
?>

</body>
</html>

Delete a Cookie

To delete a cookie, use the setcookie() function with an expiration date in the past:

Example

<?php
// set the expiration date to one hour ago
setcookie("user", "", time() - 3600);
?>
<html>
<body>

<?php
echo "Cookie 'user' is deleted.";
?>

</body>
</html>
Check if Cookies are Enabled

The following example creates a small script that checks whether cookies are enabled. First, try to create a test
cookie with the setcookie() function, then count the $_COOKIE array variable:

Example

<?php
setcookie("test_cookie", "test", time() + 3600, '/');
?>
<html>
<body>

<?php
if(count($_COOKIE) > 0) {
    echo "Cookies are enabled.";
} else {
    echo "Cookies are disabled.";
}
?>
</body>
</html>

PHP Sessions

A session is a way to store information (in variables) to be used across multiple pages.

Unlike a cookie, the information is not stored on the users computer.

What is a PHP Session?

When you work with an application, you open it, do some changes, and then you close it. This is much like a
Session. The computer knows who you are. It knows when you start the application and when you end. But on
the internet there is one problem: the web server does not know who you are or what you do, because the HTTP
address doesn't maintain state.

Session variables solve this problem by storing user information to be used across multiple pages (e.g.
username, favorite color, etc). By default, session variables last until the user closes the browser.

So; Session variables hold information about one single user, and are available to all pages in one application.

Tip: If you need a permanent storage, you may want to store the data in a database.

Start a PHP Session

A session is started with the session_start() function.

Session variables are set with the PHP global variable: $_SESSION.
Now, let's create a new page called "demo_session1.php". In this page, we start a new PHP session and set
some session variables:

Example

<?php
// Start the session
session_start();
?>
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<?php
// Set session variables
$_SESSION["favcolor"] = "green";
$_SESSION["favanimal"] = "cat";
echo "Session variables are set.";
?>

</body>
</html>

Get PHP Session Variable Values

Next, we create another page called "demo_session2.php". From this page, we will access the session
information we set on the first page ("demo_session1.php").

Notice that session variables are not passed individually to each new page, instead they are retrieved from the
session we open at the beginning of each page (session_start()).

Also notice that all session variable values are stored in the global $_SESSION variable:

Example

<?php
session_start();
?>
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<?php
// Echo session variables that were set on previous page
echo "Favorite color is " . $_SESSION["favcolor"] . ".<br>";
echo "Favorite animal is " . $_SESSION["favanimal"] . ".";
?>
</body>
</html>

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