note 48857 added to function.import-request-variables

Beware: import_request_variables() does not copy the request variables into local scope variables. Instead, it copies the *reference* to the request variable content to local variables Important implication: any change to the local variable means a changes to the respective request variable, too! This is a clear difference to extract($_GET) which copies the content of the request variables into local variables. To shed some light on the implication, consider this (assuming the query string "...&var=1"): echo $_GET['var']; # prints: 1 import_request_variables(); echo $var; # prints 1 $var = 2; echo $_GET['var']; # prints 2 !!!! So, $_GET has changed as well! On the other hand: echo $_GET['var']; # prints: 1 extract($_GET); echo $var; # prints 1 $var = 2; echo $_GET['var']; # prints 2 !!!! Because of this, I recommend NOT using import_request_variables(), but extract($_GET); extract($_POST); extract($_COOKIE); instead, since this combination bears not these unexspected side effects. PS: not to mention that you have to reconsider your coding style if any need to import_request_variables arises at all! ---- Manual Page -- http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.import-request-variables.php Edit -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=edit+48857 Delete -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+48857&report=yes Reason: bad code -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+48857&report=yes&reason=bad+code Reason: spam -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+48857&report=yes&reason=spam Reason: useless example -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+48857&report=yes&reason=useless+example Reason: contains commercial links -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+48857&report=yes&reason=contains+commercial+links Reason: useless note -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+48857&report=yes&reason=useless+note Reject -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=reject+48857&report=yes Search -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php