How to retrieve multiple input names into one variable in PHP

Question

I have a program where the user can enter the names of there three favorite colors. When it is received by the PHP script I need them to be stored in one variable. If the user enters one color then one color is displayed and entered into the .txt file... if three colors are entered than all three colors are entered into the file etc. Is there a way to receive user input from three separate text fields into one variable? I want them to be displayed in 3 separate fields in an html table.

HTML

<form method="POST" action="colors.php">

<p>Enter Your favorite colors
    <br /><input type="text" name="color1" size="20">
    <br /><input type="text" name="color2" size="20">
    <br /><input type="text" name="color3" size="20">
    </p>

<input type="submit" value="Submit">

</form>

PHP

<table>
<tr>
 $color= $_POST['color'];
 $fp = fopen($filename, 'a');
  $colors .= "<td>".$color1."</td>";
    $colors .= "<td>".$color2."</td>";
    $colors.= "<td>". $color3 ."</td>";
</tr>
</table>

You should be getting an undefined index notice.

Funk Forty Niner
– Funk Forty Niner

2018-08-28 00:01:05 +00:00
Commented Aug 28, 2018 at 0:01 — Funk Forty Niner
– Funk Forty Niner, Commented Aug 28, 2018 at 0:01
I am getting undefined index 'color'

CodeConnoisseur
– CodeConnoisseur

2018-08-28 00:08:17 +00:00
Commented Aug 28, 2018 at 0:08 — CodeConnoisseur
– CodeConnoisseur, Commented Aug 28, 2018 at 0:08
and undefined variables

Funk Forty Niner
– Funk Forty Niner

2018-08-28 00:09:21 +00:00
Commented Aug 28, 2018 at 0:09 — Funk Forty Niner
– Funk Forty Niner, Commented Aug 28, 2018 at 0:09
Can you offer solutions ?

CodeConnoisseur
– CodeConnoisseur

2018-08-28 00:24:55 +00:00
Commented Aug 28, 2018 at 0:24 — CodeConnoisseur
– CodeConnoisseur, Commented Aug 28, 2018 at 0:24
I don't see anything wrong with John's answer.

Funk Forty Niner
– Funk Forty Niner

2018-08-28 00:43:08 +00:00
Commented Aug 28, 2018 at 0:43 — Funk Forty Niner
– Funk Forty Niner, Commented Aug 28, 2018 at 0:43

John Conde · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-28 00:14:51Z

3

Use array notation for the names of your form inputs:

<form method="POST" action="colors.php">

<p>Enter Your favorite colors
<br /><input type="text" name="color[]" size="20">
<br /><input type="text" name="color[]" size="20">
<br /><input type="text" name="color[]" size="20">
</p>

<input type="submit" value="Submit">

</form>

In PHP you will then receive an array of values. Just loop through it like you would any array:

<table>
<tr>
<?php
 foreach ($_POST['color'] as $color) {
   echo "<td>".$color."</td>";
 }
</tr>
</table>

Keep in mind that you shouldn't trust user data and should sanitize and escape it as necessary.

edited Aug 28, 2018 at 0:14

answered Aug 27, 2018 at 23:56

John Conde

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3 Comments

CodeConnoisseur Over a year ago

this works well but how do I get them to be inserted into separate <td> tags in an html table?

CodeConnoisseur Over a year ago

Will modify my question, I apologize.

John Conde Over a year ago

It's just an array. Loop through them using foreach like you would any array.

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