Get unlimited $_POST variables & list them

Question

Hi, I want to receive unlimited $_POST variables including an additional number and turn them into arrays like paypal form does.

Example:

<form action="mysite">
<input name="productname" />
<input name="productname1" />
<input name="productname2" />
Etc....
</form>

I will turn that into a php array after receiving it:

products(gta,twilight,flowers,chocolate,ipod)

So that just to explain you, i want to list them as an invoice.

Note: Please don't suggest to use the productname[], i want to use preg match to do that Thanks

Answer 1

<form action="mysite">
<input name="productname[]" />
<input name="productname[]" />
<input name="productname[]" />
Etc....
</form>

Then $_POST['productname'] will be a numeric array with all your values.

If you can't control the form, you can build the array like this:

$res = array();
foreach ($_POST as $k => $v) {
    if (preg_match('/^productname(\d{0,})$/', $k, $matches))
        $res[(int) $matches[1]] = $v;
}
// result in $res

Answer 2

If they don't actually have to have numbers in the names, use:

<form action="mysite">
<input name="productname[]" />
<input name="productname[]" />
<input name="productname[]" />
Etc....
</form>

PHP will convert productname to an array. The FAQ has more info on this feature.

Answer 3

<?php
foreach($_POST as $name => $value) {
    if(strpos($name, 'productname') === 0) {
        // Do something with it
    }
}
?>