PHP setrawcookie() function

PHP HTTP Functions

Definition and Usage

The setrawcookie() function does not URL-encode the cookie value and sends an HTTP cookie.

Cookies are variables sent from the server to the browser. Cookies are typically small text files embedded by the server into the user's computer. Whenever a computer requests a page through the browser, this cookie is sent.

The name of the cookie is specified as the same-named variable. For example, if a cookie named "name" is sent, an automatic variable $user is created containing the value of the cookie.

Cookies must be assigned a value before any other output is sent.

If successful, the function returns true; otherwise, it returns false.

Syntax

setcookie(name,value,expire,path,domain,secure)
Parameters Description
name Required. Specifies the name of the cookie.
value Required. Specifies the value of the cookie.
expire Optional. Specifies the expiration time of the cookie.
path Optional. Specifies the server path for the cookie.
domain Optional. Specifies the domain of the cookie.
secure Optional. Specifies whether the cookie is transmitted over a secure HTTPS connection.

Tips and Notes

Note:The value of a cookie named "user" can be accessed via $HTTP_COOKIE_VARS["user"] or $_COOKIE["user"].

Note:setrawcookie() versus setcookie() Almost identical, the difference is that the cookie value is not automatically URL-encoded when sent to the client.

Instance

Example 1

Set and send cookies:

<?php
$value = "my cookie value";
// Send a simple cookie
setrawcookie("TestCookie",$value);
?>
<html>
<body>
...
...

<?php
$value = "my cookie value";
// Send a cookie that expires in 24 hours
setrawcookie("TestCookie",$value, time()+3600*24);
?>
<html>
<body>
...
...

Example 2

Different methods to retrieve cookie values:

<html>
<body>
<?php
// Output individual cookies
echo $_COOKIE["TestCookie"];
echo "<br />";
echo $HTTP_COOKIE_VARS["TestCookie"];
echo "<br />";
// Output all cookies
print_r($_COOKIE);
?>
</body>
</html>

Output:

my cookie value
my cookie value
Array ([TestCookie] => my cookie value)

Example 3

// Delete a cookie by setting the expiration date to a past date/time

<?php
// Set expiration date to one hour ago
setrawcookie("TestCookie", "", time() - 3600);
?>
<html>
<body>
...
...

Example 4

Create an array cookie:

<?php
setrawcookie("cookie[three]","cookiethree");
setrawcookie("cookie[two]","cookietwo");
setrawcookie("cookie[one]","cookieone");
// Output cookie (after page reload)
if (isset($_COOKIE["cookie"]))
  {
  foreach ($_COOKIE["cookie"] as $name => $value)
    {
    echo "$name : $value <br />";
    }
  }
?>
<html>
<body>
...
...

Output:

three : cookiethree
two : cookietwo
one : cookieone

PHP HTTP Functions