PHP: import_request_variables - Manual

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Last updated: Sat, 27 Jan 2007

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# import_request_variables

(PHP 4 >= 4.1.0, PHP 5)

import_request_variables -- Import GET/POST/Cookie variables into the global scope

## Description

bool import_request_variables ( string types [, string prefix] )

Imports GET/POST/Cookie variables into the global scope. It is useful if you disabled register_globals, but would like to see some variables in the global scope.

Using the `types` parameter, you can specify which request variables to import. You can use 'G', 'P' and 'C' characters respectively for GET, POST and Cookie. These characters are not case sensitive, so you can also use any combination of 'g', 'p' and 'c'. POST includes the POST uploaded file information. Note that the order of the letters matters, as when using "gp", the POST variables will overwrite GET variables with the same name. Any other letters than GPC are discarded.

The `prefix` parameter is used as a variable name prefix, prepended before all variable's name imported into the global scope. So if you have a GET value named "userid", and provide a prefix "pref_", then you'll get a global variable named $pref_userid.

If you're interested in importing other variables into the global scope, such as SERVER, consider using extract().

> Замечание: Although the `prefix` parameter is optional, you will get an E_NOTICE level error if you specify no prefix, or specify an empty string as a prefix. This is a possible security hazard. Notice level errors are not displayed using the default error reporting level.

`<?php
// This will import GET and POST vars
// with an "rvar_" prefix
import_request_variables("gP", "rvar_");
echo $rvar_foo;
?>`

See also $_REQUEST, register_globals, Predefined Variables, and extract().

add a note User Contributed Notes
import_request_variables
samb06 at gmail dot com
15-May-2006 04:09
`What i do is have a small script in my header file that takes an array called $input, and loops through the array to extract variables. that way the security hole can be closed, as you specify what variables you would like extracted
$input = array('name' => null, 'age' => 26) ;
// 26 is the default age, if $_GET['age'] is empty or not set
function extract_get()
{
global $input ;
if ($input)
{
foreach ($input as $k => $v)
{
if ($_GET[$k] == '' or $_GET[$k] == NULL)
{
$GLOBALS[$k] = $v ;
}
else
{
$GLOBALS = $_GET[$k] ;
}
}
}
}`
jason
08-Jul-2005 12:35
`reply to ceo AT l-i-e DOT com:
I don't think it's a risk, as all of your request variables will be tagged with the prefix. As long as you don't prefix any of your internal variables with the same, you should be fine.
If someone tries to access an uninitiated security-related variable like $admin_level through request data, it will get imported as $RV_admin_level.`
nexxer at rogers dot com
10-Feb-2005 10:47
`PHP5 seems to have fixed that, in the sense that import_request_variables("g") works like extract($_GET). It doesn't seem to be passing a reference to the global, but instead creating a copy of it as expected`
cornflake4 at gmx dot at
10-Jan-2005 02:52
`oops, a typo in my comment:
The last line in the second example (the on using the extract() function) should read:
echo $_GET['var']; # prints 1, so $_GET has been unchanged`
cornflake4 at gmx dot at
09-Jan-2005 09:39
`Beware:
import_request_variables() does not copy the request variables into local scope variables. Instead, it copies the *reference* to the request variable content to local variables Important implication: any change to the local variable means a changes to the respective request variable, too!
This is a clear difference to extract($_GET) which copies the content of the request variables into local variables.
To shed some light on the implication, consider this (assuming the query string "...&var=1"):
echo $_GET['var']; # prints: 1
import_request_variables();
echo $var; # prints 1
$var = 2;
echo $_GET['var']; # prints 2 !!!!
So, $_GET has changed as well!
On the other hand:
echo $_GET['var']; # prints: 1
extract($_GET);
echo $var; # prints 1
$var = 2;
echo $_GET['var']; # prints 2 !!!!
Because of this, I recommend NOT using import_request_variables(), but extract($_GET); extract($_POST); extract($_COOKIE); instead, since this combination bears not these unexspected side effects.
PS: not to mention that you have to reconsider your coding style if any need to import_request_variables arises at all!`
ceo AT l-i-e DOT com
10-Dec-2004 12:56
`Call me crazy, but it seems to me that if you use this function, even WITH the prefix, then you might as well just turn register_globals back on...
Sooner or later, somebody will find a "hole" with your prefixed variables in an un-initialized variable.
Better to import precisely the variables you need, and initialize anything else properly.`
brian at enchanter dot net
07-Dec-2004 05:19
`import_request_variables does *not* read from the $_GET, $_POST, or $_COOKIE arrays - it reads the data directly from what was submitted. This is an important distinction if, for example, the server has magic_quotes turned on and you massage the data to run stripslashes on it; if you then use import_request_variables, your variables will still have slashes in them.
In other words: even if you say $_GET=""; $_POST=""; then use import_request_variables, it'll still get all the request data.
If you change the contents of $_GET and you then want to bring this data into global variables, use extract($_GET, EXTR_PREFIX_ALL, "myprefix") instead.`
add a note
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Last updated: Sat, 27 Jan 2007
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