Question

I have a html form with text input field. I’m wondering how to recognize specific input from the form. Example input commands:

<input type="text" name="action" value="bookmark http://google.com" />
<?php
        if ($command == "goto"):
        // go to website X
        elseif ($command == "bookmark"):
        // bookmark website X
        else:
        // something else
        endif;
?>

Answer 1

I think the easiest way is to split the string on the first space to separate it into a command and the parameter for that command. The “2” parameter to explode() allows spaces to be used in $param, if necessary.

$input = explode(' ', $_POST['action'], 2);
$command = $input[0];
$param = $input[1];

switch ($command) {
    case 'goto':
        // go to website $param
        break;
    case 'bookmark':
        // bookmark website $param
        break;
    default:
        // unknown command
}