Automatically update database with checkboxs that are unticked (false)

Question

I currently update my database records with an input like this

$this->my_model->update($id, $this->input->post()));

(This is after I have performed a validation on all the input. The "model" also has a white_list of data to expect.)

Problem: if I am updating a checkbox, and it is "unticked" (i.e. 'false') - then that field is not 'posted' by the browser.

For example - if I tick checkbox_two - but leave checkbox_one unticked, $_POST shows:

[field_one] = "some value"
[field_two] = "some value"
[checkbox_two] = 1

Therefore my model will not update that field - since it is not part of the post.

The same does not happen in reverse - because a "ticked" checkbox is posted as "1" - and thus is correctly updated.

[field_one] = "some value"
[field_two] = "some value"
[checkbox_one] = 1
[checkbox_two] = 1

Question: Does anyone have an elegant solution to handle this, other than having to always specifically check for each checkbox?

This seems a decent solution, the one about using hidden form elements. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1809494/post-the-checkboxes-that-are-unchecked — Rick Calder, Nov 20 '12 at 11:22
You can do a `$update['field'] = $this->input->post('checkbox') ? 1 : 0;` This assumes that you always have the checkbox in your form. — Silviu G, Nov 20 '12 at 11:27

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 20 '12 at 11:28

<input type="hidden" name="example" value="FALSE" />
<input type="checkbox" name="example" value="TRUE" />

This practice is easy and logical. If checkbox is checked, $this->input->post('example') == 'TRUE' else, $this->input->post('example') == 'FALSE'.

The latest given value of a name="" overrides previous, thus givin prio checkbox > hidden.

EDIT: this solution is equal to given most rated answer in Rick Calder's comment. I've also come to this conclusion on my own, though.

Automatically update database with checkboxs that are unticked (false)

1 Answers1