PHP get post data from inputs with arrays []

Question

I am creating a form that users can add extra fields to dynamically and every time a new input is created, it is named accountemails[type] with the type being different for each group.

I want to post this form and retrieve the data grouped by the type

For example, if I have 2 groups - group1 and group2 my inputs would be named:

name="accountemails[group1]"
name="accountemails[group2]"

And there could be multiple with the same group name

For the post in php, I tried

foreach($_POST["accountemails"] as $type => $email) {

}

Which I though would work and I could use $type as each group and then $email for each value but that only shows the last posted input value per group

What exactly are you doing inside the `foreach` loop? And what values does `$_POST["accountemails"]` contain (see the comment above)? — Qirel, Dec 11 '16 at 13:52
You have to discriminate the fields per array in HTML. See http://stackoverflow.com/q/9073690/498457 — Christoph Grimmer, Dec 11 '16 at 14:01
so i have posted g1, g2 and o1 and the var dump shows `array(4) { ["general"]=> string(2) "g2" ["orders"]=> string(2) "o1" ["renewals"]=> string(0) "" ["accounts"]=> string(0) "" } ` — charlie, Dec 11 '16 at 14:31

Benoti · Answer 1 · 2016-12-11T14:49:40.603

1

If you want to add multiple form input with the same name, you need to add double brackets at the very last end of the name.

 name="accountemails[group1][]"
 name="accountemails[group2][]"

Then if the user adds extra-fields for group1, each new accountemails in each different group will be added to an array that you'll be able to retrieve in your foreach loop.

edited Dec 11 '16 at 14:49

answered Dec 11 '16 at 14:16

Benoti

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The indexes (`group1`/`group2`) are different, so using `name="accountemails[group1]"`/`name="accountemails[group2]"` (without the extra brackets) is valid and will submit both fields into the `$_POST['accountemails']` array. You're essentially making it another dimention wide when adding `[]` at the end, which isn't needed. – Qirel Dec 11 '16 at 14:20
1

@Qirel but OP has stated that there could be multiple records with the same group name e.g. [group1]. So I'm guessing that OP is attempting to add data to the array of `accountemails[group1]` or `accountemails[group2]` which means this answer above would be correct as all OP is doing at the moment is overwriting `['group1']` or `['group2']` when a new value has been added. – Kitson88 Dec 11 '16 at 14:40
@Qirel Just to clarify, I'm not trying cause a war :-) I'm just curious because this would of been my logic for resolving. Obviously if I'm wrong then put me straight. – Kitson88 Dec 11 '16 at 14:44
this is what my form looks like: https://s27.postimg.org/fk54dsm6r/Screen_Shot_2016_12_11_at_14_45_59.png - so each input would be accountemails[general][] and accountemails[orders][] – charlie Dec 11 '16 at 14:46
P.S. I have added [] to the end of the input names – charlie Dec 11 '16 at 14:47
1

@Kitson88 Who said anything about a war? ;-) We're all friendly here! You might very well be right, though - I think I might've miss-interpreted the problem (and missed entirely the "*And there could be multiple with the same group name*" part of OPs question!). – Qirel Dec 11 '16 at 14:49
@Qirel *We're all friendly here!* - I wish that was the case :-P Cheers for getting back to me. – Kitson88 Dec 11 '16 at 14:53
Yes we're all here to help :-) I only give the answer as how I understand the problem and how I did it many time in this case. – Benoti Dec 11 '16 at 14:54
Did you see my screenshot? How do I handle the POST data in PHP? – charlie Dec 11 '16 at 14:56
@charlie See comments above and Benoti's answer. Add `[]` to the end of your form array to add elements to your `$_POST` array. At the moment, it sounds like your overwriting your data as the values are not being added to a sub-array. – Kitson88 Dec 11 '16 at 14:59
Yes i saw your screenshots, the foreach loop need to be different. I didn't correct it. Try to loop in each group, -> foreach($accountdetails['group1'] as $email) – Benoti Dec 11 '16 at 14:59
@Benoti what is `$accountdetails` ? – charlie Dec 11 '16 at 15:00
i have tried this `foreach($_POST["accountemails"] as $type)` and then inside here - `foreach($type as $t)` – charlie Dec 11 '16 at 15:01

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 11 '16 at 15:24

To elaborate on Benoti's answer, it sounds like your overwriting your $_POST['accountemails'] data when a new value is added. Add the group data to an array.

$_POST['accountemails']['group1'] [] = "Group 1 - 1"; //Emulates html form: name = accountemails[group1][] with value of: Group 1 - 1
$_POST['accountemails']['group1'] [] = "Group 1 - 2"; //Emulates html form: name = accountemails[group1][] with value of: Group 1 - 2

$_POST['accountemails']['group2'] [] = "Group 2 - 1"; //Emulates html form: name = accountemails[group2][] with value of: Group 2 - 1
$_POST['accountemails']['group2'] [] = "Group 2 - 2"; //Emulates html form: name = accountemails[group2][] with value of: Group 2 - 2

foreach ($_POST as $v) {

    foreach ($v['group1'] as $email) {

        echo "Group 1 Email: " . $email;
        echo "<br>";
    }

    foreach ($v['group2'] as $email) {

        echo "Group 2 Email: " . $email;
        echo "<br>";     
    }
}

Output

Group 1 Email: Group 1 - 1
Group 1 Email: Group 1 - 2
Group 2 Email: Group 2 - 1
Group 2 Email: Group 2 - 2

PHP get post data from inputs with arrays []

2 Answers2