Using a PHP variable in a text input value = statement

Question

I retrieve three pieces of information from the database, one integer, one string, and one date.

I echo them out to verify the variables contain the data.

When I then use the variables to populate three input boxes on the page, they do not populate correctly.

The following do not work:

id: <input type="text" name="idtest" value=$idtest>

Yes, the variable must be inside <?php var ?> for it to be visible.

So:

id: <input type="text" name="idtest" value=<?php $idtest ?> />

The field displays /.

When I escape the quotes,

id: <input type="text" name="idtest" value=\"<?php $idtest ?>\"  />

the field then displays \"\".

With single quotes

id: <input type="text" name="idtest" value='<?php $idtest ?>'  />

the field displays nothing or blank.

With single quotes escaped,

id: <input type="text" name="idtest" value=\'<?php $name ?>\'  />

the field displays \'\'.

With a forward slash (I know that's not correct, but to eliminate it from the discussion),

id: <input type="text" name="idtest" value=/"<?php $name ?>/"  />

the field displays /"/".

Double quotes, escape double quotes, escape double quotes on left side only, etc. do not work.

I can set an input box to a string. I have not tried using a session variable as I prefer to avoid do that.

What am I missing here?

use echo or short tags <?=$variablename?>

Fida
– Fida

2016-10-12 20:06:13 +00:00
Commented Oct 12, 2016 at 20:06 — Fida
– Fida, Commented Oct 12, 2016 at 20:06

Your Common Sense · Accepted Answer · 2025-08-27 09:09:04Z

38

Try something like this:

<input type="text" name="idtest" value="<?= htmlspecialchars($name); ?>" />

It is very important to always use htmlspecialchars() to prevent errors and XSS.

Note that I used <?= short echo tag which is recommended for such usage.

edited Aug 27 at 9:09

Your Common Sense

158k42 gold badges226 silver badges373 bronze badges

answered Dec 15, 2010 at 4:45

icktoofay

130k23 gold badges261 silver badges239 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

4 Comments

thirtydot Over a year ago

Would it not be better to use htmlspecialchars instead in this context?

Phil Over a year ago

@thirtydot htmlentities converts all the characters that htmlspecialchars does and then some

malcolm laplante Over a year ago

Thank you all for the above and below. All three examples "echo, htmlentities, htmlspecialchar" work(had to try all to see how they operate). Your discussion displays my lack of knowledge in this area. Applications on Windows is one world (VB, SQL server, C, etc), but web applications cover a whole new slew of syntax issues/protocols. I no longer work in that world and am playing with this just for fun. I have much to learn. Thank you again from a newbie(all over again).

Arpit Patel Over a year ago

You saved me man thanks a lot. I wish i could give more votes. Thank you @icktoofay

thirtydot · Accepted Answer · 2025-08-28 23:42:42Z

6

You need, for example:

<input type="text" name="idtest" value="<?php echo htmlspecialchars($idtest); ?>" />

The echo function is what actually outputs the value of the variable.

edited Aug 28 at 23:42

answered Dec 15, 2010 at 4:44

thirtydot

229k51 gold badges393 silver badges354 bronze badges

3 Comments

icktoofay Over a year ago

Technically echo is a statement, not a function.

thirtydot Over a year ago

You are of course correct, but it didn't seem important to make the distinction for this question.

Fida Over a year ago

Infact , its a language construct :D, Of course thats not the point ;)

Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-20 09:12:55Z

3

Solution

You are missing an echo. Each time that you want to show the value of a variable to HTML you need to echo it.

<input type="text" name="idtest" value="<?php echo $idtest; ?>" >

Note: Depending on the value, your echo is the function you use to escape it like htmlspecialchars.

edited Jun 20, 2020 at 9:12

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Mar 31, 2015 at 22:57

jcromanu

1,6292 gold badges17 silver badges34 bronze badges

Comments

Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-11 21:43:44Z

1

From the HTML point of view everything's been said, but to correct the PHP-side approach a little and taking thirtydot's and icktoofay's advice into account:

<?php echo '<input type="text" name="idtest" value="' . htmlspecialchars($idtest) . '">'; ?>

edited Nov 11, 2016 at 21:43

Peter Mortensen

31.4k22 gold badges110 silver badges134 bronze badges

answered Apr 30, 2016 at 22:38

8084635

191 bronze badge

Comments

Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-11 21:42:16Z

-1

If you want to read any created function, this how we do it:

<input type="button" value="sports" onClick="window.open('<?php sports();?>', '_self');">

edited Nov 11, 2016 at 21:42

Peter Mortensen

31.4k22 gold badges110 silver badges134 bronze badges

answered Aug 10, 2015 at 5:44

John Don

951 gold badge2 silver badges12 bronze badges

Comments

Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-11 21:43:12Z

-3

I have been doing PHP for my project, and I can say that the following code works for me. You should try it.

echo '<input type = "text" value = '.$idtest.'>';

edited Nov 11, 2016 at 21:43

Peter Mortensen

31.4k22 gold badges110 silver badges134 bronze badges

answered Feb 15, 2016 at 9:49

PHP LORD

9

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Using a PHP variable in a text input value = statement

6 Answers 6

4 Comments

3 Comments

Solution

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

6 Answers 6

4 Comments

3 Comments

Solution

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Linked

Related