Call PHP script without changing page

Question

I am trying to make a website that deals with a database of students and tutors. My issue is that so far the only way I know of by which I can run a PHP script (that, for example, removes a user from the database) is putting the information in a link and letting the user click on that link. This does work, but it is annoying because it means that the user is constantly being redirected to new pages. I have also been using some $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']?other information, but this is bothersome because it builds up a long stack of the same page (ie trying to use the Back/Forward function of the browser brings you to the same page).

I would like to be able to generate links/buttons that, when clicked, pass information to a php script without redirecting/changing the page (except possibly refreshing the page to show the new result).

An example from my site, where the page generates a list of all the users and then respective links/buttons to remove each user:

//Gets the list of users and iterates through the data
while ($row = mysqli_fetch_array($data))

    {
        $fullname = $row['lastname'] . ", " . $row['firstname'];
        $username = $row['username'];
        $remove_link = "remove_user.php?username=$username";

        echo '
                  <tr>
                    <td>' . $fullname . '</td>
                    <td>' . $username . '</td>
                    <td> <a href="'. $remove_link . '">Remove this user.</a> </td>
                  </tr> 
        ';

    } 
echo '</table>';

When $remove_link is clicked, it loads a php script that removes the user and then redirects back the the original page (user_list.php). Is there a way to just call the remove_user.php script without redirecting/changing pages?

Thanks in advance.

It still surprises me how many people ask the same question. stackoverflow.com/search?q=call+script+without+refresh — Matt
– Matt, Commented Jul 31, 2012 at 19:28

Brock B. · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-31 19:46:10Z

2

The way websites work today is by using Ajax to dynamically load / change the content of a page.

The best way to use Ajax is to use jQuery's Ajax functions. There are many tutorials on the internet that will show you how to use jQuery.

If you do not want to use jQuery for your Ajax, you can use the old fashioned way of doing it. You can view a tutorial on it on w3schools.com.

Hope this helps!

answered Jul 31, 2012 at 19:46

Brock B.

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Comments

Mike Brant · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-31 19:28:19Z

1

You need to start familiarizing yourself with javascript and AJAX. Probably look at using jQuery for your javascript framework as it maked this relatively simple and is the most popular such framework, with wide support.

answered Jul 31, 2012 at 19:28

Mike Brant

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Comments

Isaac Gonzalez · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-31 19:28:37Z

0

You need to do this via Ajax, one of the easiest ways to do this is with jQuery and its $.ajax, $.post, $.get and $.getJson methods wich will let you do what you want to do.

In case you haven't used jQuery i will recommend you to search for some tutorials especially on nettuts

answered Jul 31, 2012 at 19:28

Isaac Gonzalez

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Siamak Motlagh · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-31 19:37:42Z

0

5 Ways to Make Ajax Calls with jQuery

Read this tutorial, it will help you.

answered Jul 31, 2012 at 19:37

Siamak Motlagh

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Ignas · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-31 20:13:13Z

0

In addition to the answers at the top. In case the user has javascript disabled, I use this AJAX fallback script. At the end of your deletion script place this:

<?php
//check if the request is not done with ajax
if (empty($_SERVER['HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH']) || strtolower($_SERVER['HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH']) != 'xmlhttprequest') { 
//now check if the http referer is not empty. It's where the click took place. And if it's not empty redirect back to where the user came from.
    if (!empty($_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'])) {
        header("Location: " . $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER']);
        exit;
    }
}
?>

answered Jul 31, 2012 at 20:13

Ignas

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Comments

Carl0s1z · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-19 08:29:34Z

0

Instead of <a href="link"> you can use <a onlick="window.location.replace('link')"> which doesn't add a path into the history and you can use the PHP_SELF approach.

Other than that you would have to use AJAX.

edited Jul 19, 2016 at 8:29

Carl0s1z

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answered Jul 31, 2012 at 19:29

Summoner

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