Question

I currently update my database records with an input like this

$this->my_model->update($id, $this->input->post()));

(This is after I have performed a validation on all the input. The “model” also has a white_list of data to expect.)

Problem: if I am updating a checkbox, and it is “unticked” (i.e. ‘false’) – then that field is not ‘posted’ by the browser.

For example – if I tick checkbox_two – but leave checkbox_one unticked, $_POST shows:

[field_one] = "some value"
[field_two] = "some value"
[checkbox_two] = 1

Therefore my model will not update that field – since it is not part of the post.

The same does not happen in reverse – because a “ticked” checkbox is posted as “1” – and thus is correctly updated.

[field_one] = "some value"
[field_two] = "some value"
[checkbox_one] = 1
[checkbox_two] = 1

Question: Does anyone have an elegant solution to handle this, other than having to always specifically check for each checkbox?

Answer 1

<input type="hidden" name="example" value="FALSE" />
<input type="checkbox" name="example" value="TRUE" />

This practice is easy and logical. If checkbox is checked, $this->input->post('example') == 'TRUE' else, $this->input->post('example') == 'FALSE'.

The latest given value of a name="" overrides previous, thus givin prio checkbox > hidden.

EDIT: this solution is equal to given most rated answer in Rick Calder’s comment. I’ve also come to this conclusion on my own, though.