Unset HTTP GET Variables in PHP

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Posted: 04 Oct, 2009
by: Patridge B.

Updated: 04 Oct, 2009
by: Patridge B.

If you haven't learned yet, the PHP unset() command does not work to unset variables already established in the url.

for example. (phpfile.php)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<?php
echo "<html>
<body>
<a href=\"$SERVER['PHP_SELF']?passvar=1\">Click here</a>
</body></html>";
?>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the above example, after clicking on the URL, the url will read

http://mydomain/path/phpfile.php?passvar=1

I have found the easiest way to clear the GET variable is to 1) capture the GET variable results 2)refresh the page.

Example (phpfile.php)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<?php

if (!empty($_GET['passvar'])) {
unset($_GET['passvar']);
echo "<META HTTP-EQUIV=\"refresh\" CONTENT=\"0; URL=".$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']."\" >";
}
echo "<html>
<body>
<a href=\"$SERVER['PHP_SELF']?passvar=1\">Click here</a>
</body></html>";
?>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The same method works for POST variables. Simply change the unset($_GET['passvar']) to unset($_POST['passvar'])

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