Cookies are text files which allow programmers to store some information on the client computer, and they are kept of use tracking purpose.
Table of Contents
Create a Cookie
Setcookie() function is used to set a cookie.
Syntax:
setcookie(name, value, expiration);
- $name - a name of the cookie. Example: "username"
- $value - a value of the cookie. Example: "Jhon"
- $expire - time (in UNIX timestamp) when the cookie will expire. Example: time()+"3600". A cookie is set to expire after one hour.
Example:
<?php setcookie("username", "Jhon", time()+3600); ?>
Cookie username is set with value Vijay which is set to expire after one hour on the user's computer.
Retrieve a Cookie Value
PHP $ _COOKIE variable is used to retrieve a cookie value.
Example:
<?php echo $_COOKIE["username"]; ?>
isset() function is used, to detect cookie is set or not.
Example:
<?php
if (isset($_COOKIE["username"]))
echo "Welcome " . $_COOKIE["username"] . "!<br>";
else
echo "Welcome guest!<br>";
?>
You can do the following to view the full $ _COOKIE array.
Example:
<pre>
<?php print_r($_COOKIE); ?>
</pre>
Delete a Cookie
To delete cookies, you just need to set a cookie on past date.
The following PHP code will delete, username cookie.
Example:
<?php setcookie("username", "Jhon", time()-3600); ?>