Setting and reading cookies in PHP

Introduction

Cookies help websites remember you by saving small pieces of information on your computer. This way, the website can greet you or keep you logged in next time.

Remembering a user's name after they visit your site.

Keeping a user logged in without asking for a password every time.

Saving user preferences like language or theme.

Tracking items in a shopping cart before checkout.

Syntax

PHP

<?php
// To set a cookie
setcookie('name', 'value', expire, path, domain, secure, httponly);

// To read a cookie
$_COOKIE['name'];
?>

setcookie must be called before any HTML output.

Only the name and value are required; others are optional.

Examples

This sets a cookie named 'user' with the value 'Alice' that lasts until the browser closes.

PHP

<?php
setcookie('user', 'Alice');
?>

This sets a cookie named 'user' that expires in 1 hour (3600 seconds).

PHP

<?php
setcookie('user', 'Alice', time() + 3600);
?>

This reads the 'user' cookie and greets the user by name if it exists.

PHP

<?php
if (isset($_COOKIE['user'])) {
    echo 'Hello, ' . $_COOKIE['user'];
} else {
    echo 'Hello, guest!';
}
?>

Sample Program

This program sets a cookie called 'visitor' with the value 'John' that lasts for one day. Then it checks if the cookie exists and greets the visitor by name. If the cookie is not set yet, it welcomes a new visitor.

PHP

<?php
// Set a cookie named 'visitor' with value 'John' that expires in 1 day
setcookie('visitor', 'John', time() + 86400);

// Check if the cookie is set and print a greeting
if (isset($_COOKIE['visitor'])) {
    echo "Welcome back, " . $_COOKIE['visitor'] . "!";
} else {
    echo "Hello, new visitor!";
}
?>

Important Notes

Cookies are sent with the HTTP headers, so setcookie() must be called before any output.

Cookies are stored on the user's computer and can be deleted or blocked by the user.

Use isset() to check if a cookie exists before reading it to avoid errors.

Summary

Cookies store small data on the user's computer to remember information.

Use setcookie() to create cookies and $_COOKIE to read them.

Always check if a cookie exists before using its value.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using cookies in PHP?

easy

A. To store small pieces of data on the user's computer

B. To execute server-side scripts

C. To connect to a database

D. To style the webpage

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what cookies do

   Cookies save small data on the user's computer to remember information like preferences or login status.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct purpose

   Among the options, only storing small data on the user's computer matches the purpose of cookies.

3. Final Answer:

   To store small pieces of data on the user's computer -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Cookies = store small data [OK]

Hint: Cookies save small data on user devices [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing cookies with server-side code execution
• Thinking cookies connect to databases
• Assuming cookies control webpage style

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set a cookie named user with value John in PHP?

easy

A. setcookie('user', 'John');

B. cookie_set('user', 'John');

C. set_cookie('user', 'John');

D. setcookie(user, John);

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the correct function name and syntax

   The PHP function to set cookies is setcookie(), which takes the cookie name and value as strings.

2. Step 2: Check the options for correct syntax

   Only setcookie('user', 'John'); uses the correct function name and quotes around name and value.

3. Final Answer:

   setcookie('user', 'John'); -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use setcookie() with quoted strings [OK]

Hint: Use setcookie() with quotes around name and value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong function names like cookie_set or set_cookie
• Not quoting the cookie name and value
• Confusing cookie setting with reading

3. What will be the output of the following PHP code if the cookie color is set to blue?

<?php
if (isset($_COOKIE['color'])) {
    echo $_COOKIE['color'];
} else {
    echo 'No color set';
}
?>

medium

A. color

B. No color set

C. Error: Undefined index

D. blue

Solution

1. Step 1: Check if the cookie 'color' exists

   The code uses isset() to check if $_COOKIE['color'] is set. Since the cookie is set to 'blue', this condition is true.

2. Step 2: Output the cookie value

   Because the cookie exists, the code echoes its value, which is 'blue'.

3. Final Answer:

   blue -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Cookie exists, so output its value [OK]

Hint: Check isset before reading cookie to avoid errors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming cookie is not set and printing default
• Not using isset and causing undefined index error
• Confusing cookie name with its value

4. Identify the error in this PHP code that tries to read a cookie named session:

<?php
echo $_COOKIE['session'];
?>

medium

A. Cookie name should be uppercase

B. Wrong function used to read cookie

C. Missing check if cookie exists before reading

D. Cookies cannot be read in PHP

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand cookie reading best practice

   Directly accessing $_COOKIE['session'] without checking if it exists can cause an undefined index notice if the cookie is not set.

2. Step 2: Identify the missing check

   The code should use isset($_COOKIE['session']) before echoing to avoid errors.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing check if cookie exists before reading -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Always check isset() before reading cookie [OK]

Hint: Always check isset() before using $_COOKIE values [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring isset() check causing warnings
• Thinking cookie names are case sensitive in $_COOKIE
• Believing cookies cannot be read in PHP

5. You want to set a cookie named theme with value dark that expires in 7 days. Which code correctly sets this cookie?

hard

A. setcookie('theme', 'dark', time() + 60);

B. setcookie('theme', 'dark', time() + 7 * 24 * 60 * 60);

C. setcookie('theme', 'dark', 7);

D. setcookie('theme', 'dark', time() - 7 * 24 * 60 * 60);

Solution

1. Step 1: Calculate expiration time for 7 days

   7 days in seconds = 7 * 24 hours * 60 minutes * 60 seconds = 604800 seconds.

2. Step 2: Use time() plus 7 days for expiration

   The expiration parameter in setcookie() should be current time plus 604800 seconds.

3. Step 3: Check options for correct expiration

   setcookie('theme', 'dark', time() + 7 * 24 * 60 * 60); correctly uses time() + 7 * 24 * 60 * 60. setcookie('theme', 'dark', time() + 60); sets only 60 seconds, C uses 7 (invalid), D sets a past time (cookie expires immediately).

4. Final Answer:

   setcookie('theme', 'dark', time() + 7 * 24 * 60 * 60); -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Expire = now + 7 days in seconds [OK]

Hint: Expire time = time() + days * 86400 seconds [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using small numbers like 7 or 60 instead of seconds
• Setting expiration in the past
• Forgetting to add time() to expiration