Trying to sanitize data but receiving notice - undefined index

PHP
1

Hello everyone,

I’m trying to sanitize some data in a form.

The code in the contact form includes the following:

<form name="form1" method="post" action="form-email.php">
    <input type="text" name="name" value="<?php echo $_POST['name']; ?>" size="50" 
    <input type="submit" name="Submit" />
</form>

The code in form-email.php includes:

<?php
	if (isset($_POST['Submit'])) {

		if ($_POST['name'] != "") {
			$_POST['name'] = filter_var($_POST['name'], FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);
			if ($_POST['name'] == "") {
				$errors .= 'Please enter a valid name.<br/><br/>';
			}
		} else {
			$errors .= 'Please enter your name.<br/>';
		}
	}
?>

When I open the page which includes the contact form, I receive a notice:
Undefined index: name in C:\wamp\www\site1\contact-us.php on line 11

What does this mean?

Please help – thank you!

2

Since you haven’t posted any data yet, the following will throw the Notice you received

<?php echo $_POST['name']; ?>

To remedy it

<?php echo (isset($_POST['name'])) ? $_POST['name'] : ''; ?>
3

Hi cpradio,

that worked!

Thank you very much for your fast reply.

Have a good day.

4

Hello again,

now I have another problem. When I submit the form I receive a notice:

Undefined variable: errors in C:\wamp\www\site1\form-email.php on line 11

The error corresponds to the error message on line11:

$errors .= ‘Please enter your name.<br/>’;

Why would the variable be undefined?

If someone could help me out. Sorry, but I only have questions…no answers.

Thank you in advance!

5

Because you never initialized it. Add $errors = array(); above your first if statement and that notice will go away.

6

Hi cpradio,

sorry, where exactly? Like this?

<?php
$errors = array();
    if (isset($_POST['Submit'])) {

        if ($_POST['name'] != "") {
            $_POST['name'] = filter_var($_POST['name'], FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);
            if ($_POST['name'] == "") {
                $errors .= 'Please enter a valid name.<br/><br/>';
            }
        } else {
            $errors .= 'Please enter your name.<br/>';
        }
    }
?>

When I submit the form, I now don’t receive a notice, but the validation says:

ArrayPlease enter your name.

7

Yep, my bad. change it to $errors = ‘’;

8

Okay, thanks a lot. Will try it.

I appreciate your help.

9

Hi,

it’s working now - thank you!