How to get rid of unused $_GET parameters in URL with Codeigniter? - php

Question

I am designing search functionality with some data with Codeigniter.
My search model looks like:
class Search_Model extends CI_Model {
public function get_results($search_terms = false) {
// Build query
foreach ($search_terms as $field => $value) {
$this->db->like("{$field}", $value);
}
// Execute query
$query = $this->db->get('exams');
// Return results
return $query->result_array();
}
}
And the search controller method looks like this:
public function results() {
$search_terms = array(
'first_name' => $this->input->get('first_name', TRUE),
'last_name' => $this->input->get('last_name', TRUE),
'exam_name' => $this->input->get("exam_name", TRUE)
);
$data['title'] = "Search Results";
$data['exams'] = $this->search_model->get_results($search_terms);
$this->load->view('templates/header.php', $data);
$this->load->view('exams/index.php', $data);
$this->load->view('templates/footer.php');
}
The search is working as it should but I want to clean up the URL which comes out something like this if I only search for "First Name":
search/results?first_name=tim&last_name=&exam_name=
How can I remove those extra parameters that are unused in the URL?

Answer 1

The quickest way is just to filter the $searh_terms array before passing it to the model.
$search_terms = array(
'first_name' => $this->input->get('first_name', TRUE),
'last_name' => $this->input->get('last_name', TRUE),
'exam_name' => $this->input->get("exam_name", TRUE)
);
// Remove empty search values
foreach ($search_terms as $key => $value) {
if (strlen($value) == 0) {
unset($search_terms[$key]);
}
}

Answer 2

include jquery in your header. then add this script.
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$('#myform').submit(function(event){
event.preventDefault();
var url = $(this).attr('action')+'?';
var first = false;
var second = false;
if($('input[name="first_name"]').val()){
url += 'first_name='+$('input[name="first_name"]').val();
first = true;
}
if($('input[name="last_name"]').val()){
if(first){
url += '&';
}
url += 'last_name='+$('input[name="last_name"]').val();
second = true;
}
if($('input[name="exam_name"]').val()){
if(second){
url += '&';
}
url += 'exam_name='+$('input[name="exam_name"]').val();
}
window.location.replace(url);
});
});
</script>
(i didnt ran this script yet, so let me know if u get any syntax error or somethign else.)
and finally change your results function to this,
public function results() {
$search_terms = array();
if(isset($_GET['first_name'])){
$search_terms['first_name'] = $this->input->get('first_name', TRUE);
}
if(isset($_GET['last_name'])){
$search_terms['last_name'] = $this->input->get('last_name', TRUE);
}
if(isset($_GET['exam_name'])){
$search_terms['exam_name'] = $this->input->get('exam_name', TRUE);
}
$data['title'] = "Search Results";
$data['exams'] = $this->search_model->get_results($search_terms);
$this->load->view('templates/header.php', $data);
$this->load->view('exams/index.php', $data);
$this->load->view('templates/footer.php');
}

Answer 3

You can try this:
$mode = array();
if(isset($_GET['first_name'])):
$mode[] = 'first_name='.$_GET['first_name'];
endif;
if(isset($_GET['last_name'])):
$mode[] = 'last_name='.$_GET['last_name'];
endif;
if(isset($_GET['exam_name'])):
$mode[] = 'exam_name='.$_GET['exam_name'];
endif;
//etc...
//Then reformulate link
if(!empty($mode)){
$link = '?' . implode('&',$mode);
}else{
$link = '';
}
redirect("form.php".$link);

Answer 4

just filter what you send...
foreach ($search_terms as $field => $value) {
if ($value <> ""){ //or the test you like to use...
$this->db->like("{$field}", $value);
}
}