How to handle multiple checkboxes in a PHP form?

Question

I have multiple checkboxes on my form:

<input type="checkbox" name="animal" value="Cat" />
<input type="checkbox" name="animal" value="Dog" />
<input type="checkbox" name="animal" value="Bear" />

If I check all three and hit submit, with the following code in the PHP script:

if(isset($_POST['submit']) {
   echo $_POST['animal'];
}

I get "Bear", i.e. the last chosen checkbox value even though I picked all three. How to get all 3?

fatnjazzy · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-30 04:17:33Z

25

See the changes I have made in the name:

<input type="checkbox" name="animal[]" value="Cat" />
<input type="checkbox" name="animal[]" value="Dog" />
<input type="checkbox" name="animal[]" value="Bear" />

you have to set it up as array.

print_r($_POST['animal']);

answered Jul 30, 2011 at 4:17

fatnjazzy

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1 Comment

kjdion84 Over a year ago

PHP will throw an error if none of the checkboxes are checked, because animal will not even be set.

Andrew Winter · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-07 21:48:11Z

23

<input type="checkbox" name="animal[]" value="Cat" />
<input type="checkbox" name="animal[]" value="Dog" />
<input type="checkbox" name="animal[]" value="Bear" />

If I check all three and hit submit, with the following code in the PHP script:

if(isset($_POST['animal'])){
    foreach($_POST['animal'] as $animal){
        echo $animal;
    }
}

edited Aug 7, 2014 at 21:48

answered Jul 30, 2011 at 4:20

Andrew Winter

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Comments

Jonathan Fingland · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-30 04:18:02Z

5

use square brackets following the field name

<input type="checkbox" name="animal[]" value="Cat" />
<input type="checkbox" name="animal[]" value="Dog" />
<input type="checkbox" name="animal[]" value="Bear" />

On the PHP side, you can treat it like any other array.

answered Jul 30, 2011 at 4:18

Jonathan Fingland

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