PHP Cookies with Best Example

PHP Cookies with Best Example

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In this tutorial, you will know what are PHP Cookies in PHP programming, how they work and apply them in a program. This topic covers all the discussion you need to understand cookies in PHP with example programs.

Now to start with, let us know…

A cookie (browser cookies) is a little data file that a web server requests from a user’s browser to save. This data is then present in every request back to the server. Its function also means that the data is in pairs of keys and values.

Furthermore, the cookie’s name is automatically given to a variable with an identical name.

Create Cookies With PHP

To set cookies in PHP projects, we use the setcookie() method which specifies a cookie to be transmitted alongside the other HTTP headers.

Similar to other headers, cookies must be delivered before any script output (this is a protocol restriction). In return, this strategy permits a website to distinguish between new and returning visitors.

Syntax

We use the proper declaration of the setcookie() method through the syntax below.

setcookie(name, value, expire, path, domain, secure, httponly);

Remember that in the setcookie() method, the name is the only required parameter and others were optional.

The example below shows how to create or retrieve the PHP cookies in a program.

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<?php
$cookie_name = "Cookie";
$cookie_value = "ITSourceCode.com";
setcookie($cookie_name, $cookie_value, "/");
?>
<html>
<body>

<?php
if(!isset($_COOKIE[$cookie_name])) {
     echo "Cookie named '" . $cookie_name . "' is not set!";
} else {
     echo "The '" . $cookie_name . "' is set!<br>";
     echo "Value is: " . $_COOKIE[$cookie_name];
}
?>

<p>Try to reload to see the value of the cookie.</p>

</body>
</html>

Output

The 'Cookie' is set!
Value is: ITSourceCode.com

Try to reload to see the value of the cookie.

Program Output explanation

In this example, you will see that the parameter included in the setcookie() function were only the name and value. But you can include other parameters to the function if you want to specify the time and scope of the PHP cookie for the website.

Now, to explain the program, we have the cookie name “Cookie” and its value is “ITSourceCode“. Next, we use the if-else statement with isset() function to test if the cookie is set or not. It also adds a statement that says “Try to reload to see the value of the cookie.“.

Now, here’s an example program to modify a cookie in PHP.

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<?php
$cookie_name = "new";
$cookie_value = "ITSC";
setcookie($cookie_name, $cookie_value, "/");
?>
<html>
<body>

<?php
if(!isset($_COOKIE[$cookie_name])) {
     echo "Cookie named '" . $cookie_name . "' is not set!";
} else {
     echo "The '" . $cookie_name . "' cookie is set!<br>";
     echo "Value is: " . $_COOKIE[$cookie_name];
}
?>

<p>Try to reload to see the value of the cookie.</p>

</body>
</html>

Output

The 'new' cookie is set!
Value is: ITSC

Try to reload to see the value of the cookie.

Program Output explanation

The possible action that you may take to modify a cookie is to rewrite its attributes like name, value, and others within the setcookie() function.

Therefore the function is still the same, you just have to change the parameters of a cookie to implement the modification.

Now, how do we delete a cookie? Here’s an example,

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<?php
$cookie_name = "new";
$cookie_value = "ITSC";
setcookie($cookie_name, $cookie_value, time() - 1000);
?>
<html>
<body>

<?php
echo "The '" .$cookie_name. "' cookie is deleted.";
?>

</body>
</html>

Output

The 'new' cookie is deleted.

Program Output explanation

To delete a cookie in your PHP project, simply set the time() in the past to indicate that the cookie application is already done. The program will automatically delete the cookie once its time has expired.

Check if Cookies are Enabled

This time, let us know how to check if PHP cookies are enabled.

Example

<?php
$cookie_name = "new";
$cookie_value = "ITSC";
setcookie($cookie_name, $cookie_value);
?>
<html>
<body>

<?php
if(count($_COOKIE) != 0) {
  echo "Cookies are enabled.";
} else {
  echo "Cookies are disabled.";
}
?>

</body>
</html>

Output

Cookies are enabled.

Program Output Explanation

The program’s output confirms that “Cookies are enabled.” in the program since it has the cookie that is set for the web. But if the time was expired, the cookie is automatically disabled.

Frequently Ask Question

How do you create a cookie in PHP?

To set cookies in PHP projects, we use the setcookie() method.

What is a $_ cookie?

The cookie’s name is automatically given to a variable with an identical name such as “user” which will convert into “$user” with the cookie value. $_cookie or $_COOKIE is the automatic name of the cookie if there’s no prior name.

What is a PHP cookie?

In PHP, a cookie is a file from a server placed on the user’s computer used to identify the website’s visitors. So, whenever the same computer requests a page using a browser, it will also send the cookie. You can therefore both generate and retrieve cookie values through PHP.

Where does PHP store cookies?

Once the user accepts cookies, they are automatically stored on the client’s computer. Nonetheless, the path simply restricts which distant pages can access the cookies.

How many types of cookies are there in PHP?

There are two types of cookies in PHP; session cookies and persistent cookies.

What is the difference between sessions and cookies in PHP?

The primary difference between a session and a cookie is that session data is stored on the server while cookie data is stored in the visitor’s web browser. Since sessions are saved on the server, they are more secure than cookies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the PHP cookies are now clear that they are used by websites to maintain and observe their clients as well as provide necessary information for the patron clients.

Additionally, site owners can gain interactions and feedback from their users through cookies. It can help them monitor users’ activities and improve their site in particular areas.

The discussion about cookies is now covered, if you want further discussions, tap us through the comments.

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