How to Push and Pull Variable in SESSION type Array

Question

I am willing to create a Shop Cart using simple PHP SESSION ARRAY. I tried to search different StackOverFlow problems, but none of those is giving me exact solution of my problem. Maybe I am doing any silly mistake. However,

I am doing this:

<!-- SHOPPING CART -->
<?php
if(isset($_REQUEST['atc']))
{
    $item = $_REQUEST['atc'];
    $_SESSION['cart'] = array();

    array_push($_SESSION['cart'], $item);
    //$_SESSION['cart'][] = $item;

     foreach($_SESSION["cart"] as $key => $val)
    { 
        echo $key . ">" . $val;
    }
}
?>
<!-- SHOPPING CART -->

I am receiving $_REQUEST['ate'] (Integer Value/Product ID) when User is Clicking "ADD TO CART" Button on the same page. Then I am putting the value in $item, then I am declaring $_SESSION['cart'] as Array. Then I have tried array_push, and even tried $_SESSION['cart'][] to Push Integer Value. But each time only the first element is updated, therefore $_SESSION['cart'][0] is storing the value, not $_SESSION['cart'][1] or the rest.

Are you using AJAX to call this file or how do you manage "when User is Clicking"? — kero
– kero, Commented Dec 7, 2013 at 14:34
<a href=\"".$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']."?atc=".$songs['song_id']."\" title=\"Click Here to Add this song to Cart\" class=\"buy\" target=\"\"><img src=\"images/cart.png\"></a> — Sneha
– Sneha, Commented Dec 7, 2013 at 14:37

kero · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-07 15:24:53Z

1

The problem is that you redefine $_SESSION['cart'] every time as an empty array via $_SESSION['cart'] = array(); and then only push one element.

Try this

if(isset($_REQUEST['atc']))
{
    $item = $_REQUEST['atc'];

    if (!isSet($_SESSION['cart']))
        $_SESSION['cart'] = array();

    array_push($_SESSION['cart'], $item);
    //$_SESSION['cart'][] = $item;

     foreach($_SESSION["cart"] as $key => $val)
    { 
        echo $key . ">" . $val;
    }
}

Now only the first time a user wants to add an item, $_SESSION['cart'] will be initiated as an empty an array. The second time ($_SESSION['cart'] already is an array with one element), the second element will properly be pushed.

If you want the elements to be unique (as said in comments), you can use the elements id as key (and an array can only have unique keys).

if(isset($_REQUEST['atc']))
{
    $item = $_REQUEST['atc'];

    if (!isSet($_SESSION['cart']))
        $_SESSION['cart'] = array();

    if (!array_key_exists($item, $_SESSION['cart']))
        $_SESSION['cart'][$item] = 1;
    else
        $_SESSION['cart'][$item]++;

    foreach($_SESSION["cart"] as $key => $val)
    { 
        echo $key . ">" . $val;
    }
}

This will first check, if the item is already in the cart (array_key_exists), if not it will be added. If it is, it will increment the value, so you can keep track how often a specific item is in the cart (if you don't want that functionality, just lose the else statement)

edited Dec 7, 2013 at 15:24

answered Dec 7, 2013 at 14:37

kero

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2 Comments

kero Over a year ago

You are welcome. If this (or devBinnooh's) answer helped you, please consider upvoting and/or marking an answer as accepted

Sneha Over a year ago

alright sure, I will. Can you give me one more solution? How can I add distinct element in an array. Therefore, the products are unique. So, if visitor adds multiple same item, only one Item-ID will be added to the Array.

devBinnooh · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-07 14:39:48Z

0

The problem you are facing is that you override $_SESSION['cart'] every time you get an item. Try

 if(!isset($_SESSION['cart'])
    $_SESSION['cart'] = array();

    //array_push($_SESSION['cart'], $item);
    $_SESSION['cart'][] = $item;

Check first that the session is not already exist, then add items.

Note: If you use array_push() to add one element to the array it's better to use $array[] = because in that way there is no overhead of calling a function.

answered Dec 7, 2013 at 14:39

devBinnooh

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1 Comment

Sneha Over a year ago

Can you give me about one more solution? How can I add distinct element in an array. Therefore, the products are unique. So, if visitor adds multiple same item, only one Item-ID will be added to the Array.

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