Choisir le bon outil: une analyse comparative de $ _post, $ _get et $ _request

Use $_GET for retrieving non-sensitive, idempotent data from URL parameters like search or pagination, as it is bookmarkable but visible and limited in size; 2. Use $_POST for submitting sensitive or large data such as login credentials or file uploads, since it sends data in the request body, making it hidden and secure with no size limits; 3. Avoid $_REQUEST because it combines $_GET, $_POST, and $_COOKIE, leading to security risks and unpredictable behavior due to ambiguous data sources; always validate, sanitize, and explicitly use $_GET or $_POST to ensure secure and maintainable code.

When handling form data and URL parameters in PHP, developers often rely on superglobal arrays like $_POST, $_GET, and $_REQUEST. While they all serve to retrieve user input, each has distinct use cases, security implications, and behaviors. Choosing the right one is crucial for building secure, efficient, and maintainable applications.

Here’s a breakdown of when and why to use each.

1. $_GET: Retrieving Data from URL Parameters

$_GET collects data sent via the URL query string (the part after the ?). It’s commonly used for non-sensitive, idempotent operations—actions that don’t change server state.

Use cases:

• Pagination (?page=2)
• Search queries (?q=php+tutorial)
• Filtering data (?category=books&sort=price)

Example:

// URL: example.com/search.php?q=php&category=dev
echo $_GET['q'];       // Outputs: php
echo $_GET['category']; // Outputs: dev

Pros:

• Data is bookmarkable and shareable.
• Simple to debug and test.

Cons:

• Visible and limited in size (URL length restrictions).
• Not secure—never use for passwords or sensitive data.
• Vulnerable to CSRF and injection if not validated.

Best practice: Use only for read-only requests and always sanitize input.

2. $_POST: Submitting Data Securely and Privately

$_POST retrieves data sent in the body of an HTTP request, typically from HTML forms with method="post".

Use cases:

• Login forms
• File uploads
• Creating or updating records (e.g., blog posts)
• Any action that modifies server state

Example:

<form method="post" action="submit.php">
  <input type="text" name="username">
  <input type="password" name="password">
  <button type="submit">Login</button>
</form>

// submit.php
$username = $_POST['username'];
$password = $_POST['password'];

Pros:

• Data is not visible in the URL.
• No practical size limits (can handle large inputs and file uploads).
• More secure than $_GET for sensitive data.

Cons:

• Cannot be bookmarked.
• Slightly more complex to test manually.
• Still vulnerable to attacks like SQL injection or XSS if unchecked.

Best practice: Always validate, sanitize, and preferably use prepared statements when processing $_POST data.

3. $_REQUEST: A Combined Superglobal (Use with Caution)

$_REQUEST is a superglobal that, by default, contains the contents of $_GET, $_POST, and $_COOKIE. The order of precedence is defined in PHP’s variables_order directive (usually EGPCS).

Example:

// URL: example.com/test.php?name=alice
// Form POSTs: name=bob

echo $_REQUEST['name']; // Outputs: bob (POST overrides GET)

Why it seems convenient:

• One array to access all input sources.
• Useful for quick scripts or shared handlers.

But here’s the problem:

• Security risk: Input from multiple sources with no clear origin.
• Unpredictable behavior: If both GET and POST have the same key, which one wins?
• Harder to audit: Makes it difficult to know where data came from.

Best practice: Avoid $_REQUEST in favor of explicitly using $_GET or $_POST.

Key Differences at a Glance

When to Use Which?

• Use $_GET when retrieving data without side effects—searching, filtering, navigating.
• Use $_POST when submitting data that changes state—logging in, uploading, creating content.
• Avoid $_REQUEST unless you have a specific reason and understand the risks. Even then, explicitly check $_GET and $_POST instead.

Also, consider:

• Always validating and sanitizing input regardless of method.
• Using CSRF tokens for $_POST actions.
• Never trusting client-side data—treat all input as untrusted.

Bottom Line

The choice between $_POST, $_GET, and $_REQUEST isn't just about convenience—it's about security, clarity, and correctness. Stick to $_GET for safe data retrieval and $_POST for submissions. Skip $_REQUEST unless you're certain of its implications.

Basically: be explicit, be secure, and know where your data comes from.

Ce qui précède est le contenu détaillé de. pour plus d'informations, suivez d'autres articles connexes sur le site Web de PHP en chinois!