cookies...arrrrrghhh

[JamieFuller]

I have written a script.

here is the code:

if(isset($_COOKIE["cartId"])) 
{ 
 echo $_COOKIE["cartId"]; 
}else{ 
 session_start(); 
 setcookie("cartId", session_id(), time() + ((3600 * 24) * 30)); 
echo session_id(); 
}

I understand that cookies are not available until the next page load but why when I press refresh do I get a new value?




Kindest Regards
Jamie

 

[sleipnir214]

Because session variables and cookies are not the same thing. And they are handled differently by PHP.

A cookie stores a value on the client's system. A session stored an index to a set of values on the system.

If you want to use session variables, typically you invoke session_start(), then manipulate the $_SESSION superglobal array directly.

If you need to change the session ID, then use the PHP function session_id() (

http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.session-id.php)

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[JamieFuller]

Hi sleipnir214,

Thanks for your response however I understand they are different but the code simply copies the session_id() into a cookie variable (if the cookie variable is empty),

then on the next refresh of the page it should see that the cookie has a value in it and return that instead of the session_id().

Seems logical to me?


Kindest Regards
Jamie

 

[sleipnir214]

Your code should work as you think it should.

I've modified that code to read:

<?php

if(isset($_COOKIE[&quot;cartId&quot;])) 
{
	print 'from cookies: '; 
	echo $_COOKIE[&quot;cartId&quot;]; 
}
else
{ 
	session_start(); 
	setcookie(&quot;cartId&quot;, session_id(), time() + ((3600 * 24) * 30)); 
	print 'from session: ';
	echo session_id(); 
}

?>

When I first run the script I get something along the lines of:

from session: a42087006c3249331019fc4c0a2ca0ba

And in successive runs of the script I get:

from cookies: a42087006c3249331019fc4c0a2ca0ba


I am running PHP 4.3.1 as a module of Apache 1.3.27. My browser is Opera 7.11

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