PHP Session and it's variables

Question

When user come to site by link with activation code, his account activated (changed value in DB) and I want show some info message. For this I reload page with $_SESSION['message'] = "activated" (same time removing activation code from URL). Info message block code:

<? if ($_SESSION['message'] === "activated") { 
ShowAlert('ActivatedOk-popup');

echo '
<div id="ActivatedOk-popup" class="info-popup">
<div class="popup-info-wrapper"><div class="leaflet-popup-close-button">×</div>
    <div class="popup-header">'.ACTIVATION_POP_HEADER.'</div>
    <div class="popupRecord1">
               <p>'.ACTIVATION_POP_TEXT1.$_SESSION['name'].ACTIVATION_POP_TEXT2.'</p>
    </div>
    <button class="popup-btn close_but">'.ACTIVATION_POP_BTN.'</button>
</div>
</div>';

unset($_SESSION['message']);
}
?>

But I can't understand why this pop-up doesn't appears. If I remove last line: $_SESSION['message'] = ""; everything work well, but Message variable isn't empty, and each page appears pop-up. How correctly show pop-up and then unset variable?

+1 for Phil's comment, and you probably don't need the identical comparison (`===`) just equals (`==`) — Patrick Moore, Jun 01 '13 at 18:38
Of course, session started, without UNSET, it works well. There is no matter, if I use comparison or equals sign. I can't understand why variable unset before generate pop-up message. — user2443795, Jun 01 '13 at 18:50
echo your (to check) the value of `$_SESSION['message']` without unset, does it gives _"activated"_ . — gursahib.singh.sahni, Jun 01 '13 at 18:56

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 01 '13 at 18:46

0

you got to start/initialize a session *session_start();* before trying to use any session variable. check by echoing your $_SESSION['message'] once after initializing

<? session_start(); //echo $_SESSION['message']; ?>

answered Jun 01 '13 at 18:46

gursahib.singh.sahni

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Session is work. If I remove last line (unset), I can see in session file on server variable "message". But with last line, this variable removed. – user2443795 Jun 01 '13 at 18:54
echo your (to check) the value of `$_SESSION['message']` without unset, does it gives _"activated"_ . – gursahib.singh.sahni Jun 01 '13 at 18:57

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 01 '13 at 18:55

Your code is theoretically correct. Like the comment of anonymous states you should use session_start(); to make sure the session is active. (See PHP ini setting session "autostart" - the setting may vary on different servers).

Regarding your code: I would recommend not to use short open tags (because these may be not allowed on different configurations).. and I would recommend checking if the session varialble exists before checking for its contents, to avoid uneccessary notices, e.g.:

<? if (isset($_SESSION['message']) && $_SESSION['message'] === "activated") { 
     // foo
 }
?>

Having said that. Your problem most likley is in the function ShowAlert(). Do you mind sharing some details?

Problem definitely not in function, because in page code doesn't appears html that should be printed by echo. If remove function, it doesn't work too. — user2443795, Jun 01 '13 at 19:13

PHP Session and it's variables

2 Answers2