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PHP filter_input() Function

PHP Filter Reference Complete PHP Filter Reference

Definition and Usage

The filter_input() function gets external variables (like form input) and filters them.

This function is used to validate variables form insecure sources such as user input.

This function can get input from several sources:

  • INPUT_GET
  • INPUT_POST
  • INPUT_COOKIE
  • INPUT_ENV
  • INPUT_SERVER
  • INPUT_SESSION (Not yet implemented)
  • INPUT_REQUEST (Not yet implemented)

Returns the filtered data on success, FALSE on failure or NULL if the "variable" parameter is not set.

Syntax

filter_input(input_type, variable, filter, options)

Parameter Description
input_type Required. Specifies the input type. See possible types in list above
variable Required. Specifies the variable to filter
filter Optional. Specifies the ID of the filter to use. Default is FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING.  Check the Complete PHP Filter Reference for possible filters

A filter ID can be an ID name (like FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL) or an ID number (like 274)
options Optional. Specifies an associative array of flags/options or a single flag/option. Check each filter for possible options and flags

Example

In this example we use the filter_input() function to filter a POST variable. The received POST variable is a valid e-mail address:

<?php
if (!filter_input(INPUT_POST, 'email', FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL))
  {
  echo "E-Mail is not valid";
  }
else
  {
  echo "E-Mail is valid";
  }
?>

The output of the code should be:

E-Mail is valid

PHP Filter Reference Complete PHP Filter Reference
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