What is the simplest method to POST a single on or off value (PHP)

Question

I have to pass either an ON or OFF value in php. Is a single checkbox to check whether a value is on or off the simplest method? I have:

<input type="checkbox" name="highlight">

and when it is posted, if it is checked I get the value 'on' but if it is not checked I get an error of 'Undefined index'

Now I have tried testing whether it is empty or isset but I would like to know if this is the correct method for passing a boolean value.

Thanks, I have edited the question title to be more suitable — gavin stanley, Jul 28 '16 at 23:06
You could add stylized radio buttons where off or on is preselected like in modern mobile device settings. You can stylize the radio buttons using jquery or use jquery ui. — Nitin, Jul 28 '16 at 23:07
THIS IS NOT A DUPLICATE as this is asking for the simplest method. The above link is not what I am after. — gavin stanley, Jul 29 '16 at 00:30

score 3 · Answer 1 · edited Jul 28 '16 at 23:07

3

Unchecked boxes are simply not sent in POST|GET

You can just use the isset() function, its value is irrelevant:

if (isset($_POST['highlight'])) {
    echo 'it was checked';
} else {
    echo 'it was not checked';
}

edited Jul 28 '16 at 23:07

scrowler

answered Jul 28 '16 at 23:07

Thanks, is using a single checkbox the method you would use in this case scenario? Or is there a tailor made solution? – gavin stanley Jul 28 '16 at 23:08
@gavin not sure what you are asking. – Jul 28 '16 at 23:10
Thanks, I was doing something similar, my problem was I was getting an error declaring the POST variable when it wasn't posted (ie it was 'off') so I am really just checking if it is set or not. – gavin stanley Jul 28 '16 at 23:13
just if this is the simplest way to check if a single variable is ON or OFF (I thought I would be checking a boolean value or something) – gavin stanley Jul 28 '16 at 23:15
some people like to do `$highlight=$_POST['highlight']; `... when there really is no need – Jul 28 '16 at 23:15
`isset()` returns a boolean value – Jul 28 '16 at 23:15
yes I was doing that first! Thanks – gavin stanley Jul 28 '16 at 23:16
1

all that does is double the memory usage, the 'raw' POST array is fine to use – Jul 28 '16 at 23:16

Amazone · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-29T01:07:56.427

1

You can do like this:

 $cheeked = isset($_POST['highlight'])?1:0;

$cheeked will be 1 if checked and 0 if not.

edited Jul 29 '16 at 01:07

answered Jul 28 '16 at 23:26

Amazone

Do you mean "checked"? That is interesting, I will use that, thankyou – gavin stanley Jul 28 '16 at 23:35

2 Answers2