PHP Form Handling

When an HTML form is submitted, all input values are automatically sent to PHP's predefined Superglobal variables. PHP uses these variables to read and process the user's data on the server.

1. How is Data Received?

PHP uses two primary variables to capture form data, depending on the method used in the HTML form:

$_GET: Used when the form method is set to "get".
$_POST: Used when the form method is set to "post".

2. The POST Method Example

The POST method sends data within the HTTP request body. Because the data is not visible in the URL, it is the preferred method for login forms and sensitive information.

<form action="welcome.php" method="post">
  Name: <input type="text" name="name">
  Email: <input type="text" name="email">
  <input type="submit">
</form>

In welcome.php, you can display the submitted data like this:

<?php
echo "Welcome " . $_POST["name"];
echo "Your email address is: " . $_POST["email"];
?>

3. The GET Method Example

The GET method appends the form data to the URL. This is commonly used for search results, bookmarks, or filtering data.

<?php
// URL will look like: welcome.php?name=Rahul&email=rahul@example.com
echo "Hi " . $_GET["name"];
?>

4. GET vs. POST: Which one to use?

GET: Data is visible in the URL. It has a size limit (approx. 2000 characters). Never use this for passwords or sensitive data.
POST: Data is hidden from the URL. It has no strict size limits and supports advanced features like file uploads.

Important Note: Developers always prefer the POST method when saving data to a database, as it is much more secure and versatile than GET.