How can I show dynamic error message using PHP? - php

Question

I have a html form and this form is validating by PHP with jQuery/Ajax request.
Currently it's working perfectly. Now I want to show a dynamic error message.
For e. g:
I am validating integer number using following function :
function only_number ($string) {
if( preg_match('/^[0-9]+$/', $string ) ) {
return true;
} else {
return false;
}
}
This function is implementing by following way :
$msg = array();
$msg['error'] = false;
if(empty($emp_id)) {
$msg[] = 'Select assign to';
$msg['error'] = true;
} elseif( only_number($emp_id) === false ) {
$msg[] = 'Assign to must be numeric value';
$msg['error'] = true;
}
echo json_encode($msg);
You see that I am showing error message
Assign to must be numeric value
in the function implemented page e.g. update.php
It's very time consuming that I need to type several type of error message every time.
NOW, I want to write this error message in the function and it will show/implemented on validating page like : update.php page.
How can I do this ?

Answer 1

You can return array from your function. E.g:
function only_number ($string) {
$result = array(
'success' => false,
'error' => '',
);
if( preg_match('/^[0-9]+$/', $string ) ) {
$result['success'] = true;
} else {
$result['error'] = 'Assign to must be numeric value';
}
return $result;
}
And check:
if (empty($emp_id)) {
$msg[] = 'Select assign to';
$msg['error'] = true;
} else {
$check = only_number($emp_id);
if ($check['success'] == false) {
$msg[] = $check['error'];
$msg['error'] = true;
}
}

Answer 2

In stead of returning true/false you can also return a string with the error message
function only_number ($string) {
if (empty ($string) return 'Select assign to';
if(!preg_match('/^[0-9]+$/', $string ) ) return 'Assign to must be numeric value';
else return 'no error';
}
next in your code
if (only_number($emp_id) <> 'no error') echo (json_encode(only_number($emp_id)));