How can I set my $_POST variables to be saved in $_SESSION forever?

Question

I have just planned to make a program where I need to connect USER's database using DBHost, DBUser, DBPassword and DBName to save the future needed values on MySQL server. For that, I have written such codes:

 <?php session_start(); ?> <?php require('functions.php'); iq_add_style( 'DBConForm_Styles' , 'assets/scripts/css/iq_styles' , 'stylesheet' , 'css' ); function IQ_DB_Form(){ ?> <form id="iq-dbconform" method="post" action="<?php $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] ?>"> <label>Server Host:&nbsp;<input type="text" maxlength="15" placeholder="localhost" name="host-name" /></label> <label>Database User:&nbsp;<input type="text" maxlength="15" placeholder="root" name="user-name" /></label> <label>Password:&nbsp;<input type="password" maxlength="15" placeholder="User Password" name="user-pass" /></label> <label>Name of the Database:&nbsp;<input type="text" maxlength="20" placeholder="developing_house" name="db-name" /></label> <input type="submit" value="Connect" name="dbconbtn" />&nbsp;<input type="reset" value="Reset" name="dbresetbtn" /> </form> <?php } IQ_DB_Form(); // Database connection $dbhost = $_POST['host-name']; $dbuser = $_POST['user-name']; $dbpass = $_POST['user-pass']; $dbname = $_POST['db-name']; $db_details = array( 'host' => $dbhost, 'user' => $dbuser, 'password' => $dbpass, 'dbname' => $dbname, ); $IQcon = mysqli_connect($db_details['host'],$db_details['user'],$db_details['password'],$db_details['dbname']); // Check connection if (mysqli_connect_errno()) { echo "Looks like an Error connecting IQubex Database: " . mysqli_connect_error(); } // Store Values in Session foreach ($_POST as $key => $value) { ${$key} = $value; $_SESSION[$key] = $value; } echo $_SESSION['db-name']; echo $_SESSION['user-pass']; echo $_SESSION['user-name']; // Perform queries if ($IQcon){ mysqli_query($IQcon,"CREATE TABLE `Persons` ( `FirstName` varchar(30) NOT NULL, `LastName` varchar(60) NOT NULL, `Age` int(255) NOT NULL, );"); mysqli_query($IQcon,"CREATE TABLE `MadBoys` ( `FirstName` varchar(30) NOT NULL, `LastName` varchar(60) NOT NULL, `Age` int(255) NOT NULL, );"); mysqli_close($IQcon); } else{ echo "There seems a problem with your server."; } ?>

I have saved the Database Configuration Form Values in session so that when I write echo $_SESSION['db-name'] , the inserted DB name is printed. But when the page is reloaded, going back coming again on the page, or something like that, all the values gets RESET! Thus, I don't want my users to end up connecting database again and again. I want it to be saved forever so that I can work for next program step.

Answer 1

You can check if values are saved in session. If they are do not connect to db else get the values and save them in DB:

See the example below:

session_start();
if(isset($_SESSION['stored-in-db']))
{
    //USE SESSION VALUES
}
else
{
$dbhost = $_POST['host-name'];
$dbuser = $_POST['user-name'];
$dbpass = $_POST['user-pass'];
$dbname = $_POST['db-name'];

$db_details = array(
    'host' => $dbhost,
    'user' => $dbuser,
    'password' => $dbpass,
    'dbname' => $dbname,
);
  $IQcon = mysqli_connect($db_details['host'],$db_details['user'],$db_details['password'],$db_details['dbname']);
  foreach ($_POST as $key => $value)
  {
      $_SESSION[$key] = $value;
  }
  $_SESSION['stored-in-db] = true;
 }

Answer 2

Try to add

session_start();

at top of your pages where you are using sessions.