Validating data = Determine if the data is in proper form.
Sanitizing data = Remove any illegal character from the data.
The PHP Filter Extension
PHP filters are used to validate and sanitize external input.
The PHP filter extension has many of the functions needed for checking user input, and is designed to make data validation easier and quicker.
The filter_list() function can be used to list what the PHP filter extension offers:
Example
<table>
<tr>
<td>Filter Name</td>
<td>Filter ID</td>
</tr>
<?php
foreach (filter_list()
as $id =>$filter) {
echo '<tr><td>' .
$filter . '</td><td>' . filter_id($filter) . '</td></tr>';
}
?>
</table>
Run example »
Why Use Filters?
Many web applications receive external input. External input/data can be:
- User input from a form
- Cookies
- Web services data
- Server variables
- Database query results
You should always validate external data!
Invalid submitted data can lead to security problems and break your webpage!
By using PHP filters you can be sure your application gets the correct input!
PHP filter_var() Function
The filter_var() function both validate and sanitize data.
The filter_var() function filters a single variable with a specified filter. It takes two pieces of data:
- The variable you want to check
- The type of check to use
Sanitize a String
The following example uses the filter_var() function to remove all HTML tags from a string:
Example
<?php
$str = "<h1>Hello World!</h1>";
$newstr
= filter_var($str, FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);
echo $newstr;
?>
Run example »
Validate an Integer
The following example uses the filter_var() function to check if the variable $int is an integer. If $int is an integer, the output of the code above will be: "Integer is valid". If $int is not an integer, the output will be: "Integer is not valid":
Example
<?php
$int = 100;
if (!filter_var($int, FILTER_VALIDATE_INT) ===
false) {
echo("Integer is valid");
} else {
echo("Integer is not
valid");
}
?>
Run example »
Tip: filter_var() and Problem With 0
In the example above, if $int was set to 0, the function above will return "Integer is not valid". To solve this problem, use the code below:
Example
<?php
$int = 0;
if (filter_var($int,
FILTER_VALIDATE_INT) === 0 || !filter_var($int, FILTER_VALIDATE_INT) ===
false) {
echo("Integer is valid");
} else {
echo("Integer is not
valid");
}
?>
Run example »
Validate an IP Address
The following example uses the filter_var() function to check if the variable $ip is a valid IP address:
Example
<?php
$ip = "127.0.0.1";
if (!filter_var($ip, FILTER_VALIDATE_IP) ===
false) {
echo("$ip is a valid IP address");
} else {
echo("$ip
is not a valid IP address");
}
?>
Run example »
Sanitize and Validate an Email Address
The following example uses the filter_var() function to first remove all illegal characters from the $email variable, then check if it is a valid email address:
Example
<?php
$email = "[email protected]";
// Remove all illegal
characters from email
$email = filter_var($email,
FILTER_SANITIZE_EMAIL);
// Validate e-mail
if (!filter_var($email, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL) ===
false) {
echo("$email is a valid email address");
} else {
echo("$email
is not a valid email address");
}
?>
Run example »
Sanitize and Validate a URL
The following example uses the filter_var() function to first remove all illegal characters from a URL, then check if $url is a valid URL:
Example
<?php
$url = "http://www.w3ii.com";
// Remove all illegal characters from a url
$url = filter_var($url,
FILTER_SANITIZE_URL);
// Validate url
if (!filter_var($url, FILTER_VALIDATE_URL) ===
false) {
echo("$url is a valid URL");
} else {
echo("$url
is not a valid URL");
}
?>
Run example »
Complete PHP Filter Reference
For a complete reference of all filter functions, go to our complete PHP Filter Reference. Check each filter to see what options and flags are available.
The reference contains a brief description, and examples of use, for each function!