Request Component¶

Overview¶

Phalcon\Http\Request is a component that encapsulates the actual HTTP request (usually originated by a browser) and sent to our application. The Phalcon\Http\Request object is a simple value object that is passed between the dispatcher and controller classes, wrapping the HTTP request environment. It also offers easy access to information such as header data, files, methods, variables, etc.

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

// POST
if (true === $request->isPost()) {
    // AJAX
    if (true === $request->isAjax()) {
        // ....
    }
}

Getting Values¶

PHP automatically fills the superglobal arrays $_GET, $_POST and $_REQUEST depending on the type of the request. These arrays contain the values present in forms submitted or the parameters sent via the URL. The variables in the arrays are never sanitized and can contain illegal characters or even malicious code, which can lead to SQL injection or Cross Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.

Phalcon\Http\Request allows you to access the values stored in the $_GET, $_POST and $_REQUEST arrays and sanitize or filter them with the filter service.

There are 5 methods that allow you to retrieve submitted data from a request: - get() - getQuery() - getPost() - getPut() - getServer()

All (except getServer()) accept the following parameters:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$request->get(
    $name = null,            // string
    $filters = null,         // mixed
    $defaultValue = null,    // mixed
    $notAllowEmpty = false,  // bool
    $noRecursive = false     // bool
): mixed

getServer() accepts only a name (string) variable, representing the name of the server variable that you need to retrieve.

$_REQUEST¶

The $_REQUEST superglobal contains an associative array that contains the contents of $_GET, $_POST and $_COOKIE. You can retrieve the data stored in the array by calling the get() method in the Phalcon\Http\Request object as follows:

Examples

Get the userEmail field from the $_REQUEST superglobal:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$email = $request->get('userEmail');

Get the userEmail field from the $_REQUEST superglobal. Sanitize the value with the email sanitizer:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$email = $request->get('userEmail', 'email', '[email protected]');

Get the userEmail field from the $_REQUEST superglobal. Do not sanitize it. If the parameter is null, return the default value:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$email = $request->get('userEmail', null, '[email protected]');

$_GET¶

The $_GET superglobal contains an associative array that contains the variables passed to the current script via URL parameters (also known as the query string). You can retrieve the data stored in the array by calling the getQuery() method as follows:

Examples

Get the userEmail field from the $_GET superglobal:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$email = $request->getQuery('userEmail');

Get the userEmail field from the $_GET superglobal. Sanitize the value with the email sanitizer:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$email = $request->getQuery('userEmail', 'email', '[email protected]');

Get the userEmail field from the $_GET superglobal. Do not sanitize it. If the parameter is null, return the default value:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$email = $request->getQuery('userEmail', null, '[email protected]');

$_POST¶

The $_POST superglobal contains an associative array that contains the variables passed to the current script via the HTTP POST method when using application/x-www-form-urlencoded or multipart/form-data as the HTTP Content-Type in the request. You can retrieve the data stored in the array by calling the getPost() method as follows:

Examples

Get the userEmail field from the $_POST superglobal:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$email = $request->getPost('userEmail');

Get the userEmail field from the $_POST superglobal. Sanitize the value with the email sanitizer:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$email = $request->getPost('userEmail', 'email', '[email protected]');

Get the userEmail field from the $_POST superglobal. Do not sanitize it. If the parameter is null, return the default value:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$email = $request->getPost('userEmail', null, '[email protected]');

Put¶

The request object parses the PUT stream that has been received internally. You can retrieve the data stored in the array by calling the getPut() method as follows:

Examples

Get the userEmail field from the PUT stream:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$email = $request->getPut('userEmail');

Get the userEmail field from the PUT stream. Sanitize the value with the email sanitizer:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$email = $request->getPut('userEmail', 'email', '[email protected]');

Get the userEmail field from the PUT stream. Do not sanitize it. If the parameter is null, return the default value:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$email = $request->getPut('userEmail', null, '[email protected]');

$_SERVER¶

The $_SERVER superglobal contains an array containing information such as headers, paths, and script locations. You can retrieve the data stored in the array by calling the getServer() method as follows:

Examples

Get the SERVER_NAME value from the $_SERVER superglobal:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

$name = $request->getServer('SERVER_NAME');

Preset Sanitizers¶

It is relatively common that certain fields are using the same name throughout your application. A field posted from a form in your application can have the same name and function as another form in a different area. Examples of this behavior could be id fields, name etc.

To make the sanitization process easier, when retrieving such fields, Phalcon\Http\Request offers a method to define those sanitizing filters based on HTTP methods when setting up the object.

<?php

use Phalcon\Di\Di;
use Phalcon\Filter;
use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$container = new Di();

$container->set(
    'request',
    function () {
        $request = new Request();
        $request
            ->setParameterFilters(
                'id', 
                Filter::FILTER_ABSINT, 
                [
                    'post'
                ]
            )
            ->setParameterFilters(
                'name', 
                [
                    'trim', 
                    'string'
                ], 
                [
                    'post'
                ]
            )
        ;

        return $request;
    }
);

The above will automatically sanitize any parameter that is POSTed from a form that has a name id or name with their respective filters. Sanitization takes place when calling the following methods (one per HTTP method) - getFilteredPost() - getFilteredPut() - getFilteredQuery()

These methods accept the same parameters as the getPost(), getPut(), and getQuery() but without the $filter parameter.

Controllers¶

If you use the Phalcon\Di\FactoryDefault container, the Phalcon\Http\Request is already registered for you. The most common place to access the request environment is in the action of a controller. To access the Phalcon\Http\Request object from a controller you will need to use the $this->request public property of the controller:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;
use Phalcon\Mvc\Controller;

/**
 * Class PostsController
 * 
 * @property Request $request
 */
class PostsController extends Controller
{
    public function saveAction()
    {
        // Check if the request has been made with POST
        if (true === $this->request->isPost()) {
            // Access POST data
            $customerName = $this
                ->request
                ->getPost('name');
            $customerBorn = $this
                ->request
                ->getPost('born', 'string', '1984');
        }
    }
}

Checking Operations¶

The Phalcon\Http\Request component contains a number of methods that help you check the current operation. For instance, if you want to check if a particular request was made using AJAX, you can do so by using the isAjax() method. All the methods are prefixed with is.

Checking Existence¶

There are a number of methods available that allow you to check the existence of elements in the request. These methods are prefixed with has. Depending on the method used, you can check if an element exists in the $_REQUEST, $_GET, $_POST, $_SERVER, $_FILES, PUT cache and the request headers.

Request Information¶

The Phalcon\Http\Request object offers methods that provide additional information regarding the request.

Authentication¶

Client¶

Content¶

i18n¶

Server¶

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

if ($request->isAjax()) {
    echo 'The request was made with Ajax';
}

// Check the request layer
if ($request->isSecure()) {
    echo 'The request was made using a secure layer';
}

Some methods:

$ipAddress = $request->getServerAddress();

$ipAddress = $request->getClientAddress();

$userAgent = $request->getUserAgent();

$contentType = $request->getAcceptableContent();

$charset = $request->getBestCharset();

$language = $request->getBestLanguage();

Method¶

getMethod() returns the HTTP method in which the request has been made. If the X-HTTP-Method-Override header is set, and if the method is a POST, then it is used to determine the "real" intended HTTP method. The _method request parameter can also be used to determine the HTTP method, setHttpMethodParameterOverride(true) has been called. The method always returns an uppercase string.

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request();

// POST
$_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] = 'POST';
echo $request->getMethod();

/**
 * header('X-HTTP-Method-Override: GET');
 */ 
$_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] = 'POST';
$request->setHttpMethodParameterOverride(true);
echo $request->getMethod();

// GET
$_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] = 'POST';
$_REQUEST['_method']       = 'GET';
$request->setHttpMethodParameterOverride(true);
echo $request->getMethod();

Dependency Injection¶

The Phalcon\Http\Request object implements the Phalcon\Di\InjectionAwareInterface interface. As a result, the DI container is available and can be retrieved using the getDI() method. A container can also be set using the setDI() method.

Working with Headers¶

Request headers contain useful information, allowing you to take the necessary steps to send the proper response back to the user. The Phalcon\Http\Request exposes the getHeader() and getHeaders() methods.

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$request = new Request;

$_SERVER["HTTP_HOST"] = "example.com";
$request->getHttpHost(); // example.com

$_SERVER["HTTP_HOST"] = "example.com:8080";
$request->getHttpHost(); // example.com:8080

$request->setStrictHostCheck(true);
$_SERVER["HTTP_HOST"] = "ex=am~ple.com";
$request->getHttpHost(); // UnexpectedValueException

$_SERVER["HTTP_HOST"] = "ExAmPlE.com";
$request->getHttpHost(); // example.com

The getHttpHost() method will return the hostname used by the request. The method will try to find hostname in following order: - $_SERVER["HTTP_HOST"] - $_SERVER["SERVER_NAME"] - $_SERVER["SERVER_ADDR"]

Optionally getHttpHost() validates and performs a strict check on the hostname. To achieve that you can use the setStrictHostCheck() method.

Uploaded Files¶

Another common task is file uploading. Phalcon\Http\Request offers an object-oriented way to work with files. For the whole upload process to work, you will need to make the necessary changes to your php.ini (see php-uploads).

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;
use Phalcon\Mvc\Controller;

/**
 * Class PostsController
 * 
 * @property Request $request
 */
class PostsController extends Controller
{
    public function uploadAction()
    {
        // if ($this->request->numFiles() > 0) {
        if ($this->request->hasFiles()) {
            $files = $this->request->getUploadedFiles();

            foreach ($files as $file) {
                echo $file->getName(), ' ', $file->getSize(), '\n';

                $file->moveTo(
                    'files/' . $file->getName()
                );
            }
        }
    }
}

Each object returned by Phalcon\Http\Request::getUploadedFiles() is an instance of the Phalcon\Http\Request\File which implements the Phalcon\Http\Request\FileInterface class. Using the $_FILES superglobal array offers the same behavior. Phalcon\Http\Request\File encapsulates only the information related to each file uploaded with the request.

The getUploadedFiles() accepts two parameters.

The method returns an array of Phalcon\Http\Request\File objects. Each object offers the following properties and methods, allowing you to work with uploaded files:

Dependency Injection¶

The Phalcon\Http\Request object implements the Phalcon\Di\InjectionAwareInterface interface. As a result, the DI container is available and can be retrieved using the getDI() method. A container can also be set using the setDI() method.

Events¶

The Phalcon\Http\Request object implements the Phalcon\Events\EventsAware interfaces. As a result getEventsManager() and setEventsManager() are available for you to use.

When using HTTP authorization, the Authorization header has the following format:

Authorization: <type> <credentials>

where <type> is an authentication type. A common type is Basic. Additional authentication types are described in IANA registry of Authentication schemes and Authentication for AWS servers (AWS4-HMAC-SHA256). In most use cases the authentication type is: * AWS4-HMAC-SHA256 * Basic * Bearer * Digest * HOBA * Mutual * Negotiate * OAuth * SCRAM-SHA-1 * SCRAM-SHA-256 * vapid

You can use the request:beforeAuthorizationResolve and request:afterAuthorizationResolve events to perform additional operations before or after the authorization resolves.

The request:beforeAuthorizationResolve receives the SERVER array with the key server as the second parameter of the event.

The request:afterAuthorizationResolve receives the SERVER array with the key server as well as the headers with the key headers.

A custom authorization resolver is required.

Example without using custom authorization resolver:

<?php

use Phalcon\Http\Request;

$_SERVER['HTTP_AUTHORIZATION'] = 'Enigma Secret';

$request = new Request();
print_r($request->getHeaders());

Result:

Array
(
    [Authorization] => Enigma Secret
)

Type: Enigma
Credentials: Secret

Example using custom authorization resolver:

<?php

use Phalcon\Di\Di;
use Phalcon\Events\Event;
use Phalcon\Http\Request;
use Phalcon\Events\Manager;

class NegotiateAuthorizationListener
{
    public function afterAuthorizationResolve(Event $event, Request $request, array $data)
    {
        if (empty($data['server']['CUSTOM_KERBEROS_AUTH'])) {
            return false;
        }

        list($type,) = explode(
            ' ', 
            $data['server']['CUSTOM_KERBEROS_AUTH'], 
            2
        );

        if (!$type || stripos($type, 'negotiate') !== 0) {
            return false;
        }

        return [
           'Authorization'=> $data['server']['CUSTOM_KERBEROS_AUTH'],
        ];
    }
}

$_SERVER['CUSTOM_KERBEROS_AUTH'] = 'Negotiate '
                                 . 'a87421000492aa874209af8bc028';

$di = new Di();

$di->set(
    'eventsManager',
    function () {
        $manager = new Manager();

        $manager->attach(
            'request',
            new NegotiateAuthorizationListener()
        );

        return $manager;
    }
);

$request = new Request();

$request->setDI($di);

print_r(
    $request->getHeaders()
);

Result:

Array
(
    [Authorization] => Negotiate a87421000492aa874209af8bc028
)

Type: Negotiate
Credentials: a87421000492aa874209af8bc028