Question

How can I use a database and PHP sessions to store a user’s shopping cart? I am using CodeIgniter, if that helps.

Example code would also be nice.

Answer 1

I would write an add to basket function like this:

function AddToBasket(){     if(is_numeric($_GET['ID'])){         $ProductID=(int)$_GET['ID'];         $_SESSION['Basket'][]=$ProductID;         $sOut.=ShowBasketDetail();         return $sOut;      } } 

In this shopping basket function we save Product IDs in an session array.

Here is what I would have in the show basket function:

function ShowBasket(){     foreach($_SESSION[Basket] as $ProductID){         $sql='select * from products where ProductID=$ProductID';         $result=mysql_query($sql);         $row=mysql_fetch_row($result);         echo 'Product: '.$row[0];         } } 

For each ProudctID in our session basket we make a SQL query to output product information.

Now last but not least, a clear basket function:

function ClearBasket(){     unset($_SESSION[Basket]); } 

Don’t forget session_start(); before you add any Product IDs to your session basket. Also don’t forget the mysql_connect(); function, you need this before you make any queries with the database.