Formatting data in HTTP POST request with PHP - php

Question

I'm using an API which gives an example of how they want the data of the POST request I'm about to make to be formatted. This is their example:
un=chris&
key=xxxx&
origin=plot&
platform=lisp&
args=[[0, 1, 2], [3, 4, 5], [1, 2, 3], [6, 6, 5]]&
kwargs={"filename": "plot from api",
"fileopt": "overwrite",
"style": {
"type": "bar"
},
"traces": [1],
"layout": {
"title": "experimental data"
},
"world_readable": true
}
I'm confused about how I should put together this data from existing arrays in PHP. From what I understand the example show an encoded "string" that is just partly encoded? As of now I am putting the string together all by myself through extracting the keys and values from the arrays.
I'm looking for a more neat way of doing this with existing methods?

Answer 1

I believe using http_build_query will solve this for you.
Given the example, here's sample of how to use it:
$args = array(array(0,1,2), array(3,4,5), array(1,2,3), array(6,6,5));
$kwargs = array(
'filename' => 'plot from api',
'fileopt' => 'overwrite'
'style' => array('type' => 'bar'),
'traces' => array(1),
'layout' => array('title' => 'experimental data'),
'word_readable' => true
);
$request = array(
'un' => 'chris',
'key' => 'xxx',
'origin' => 'plot',
'platform' => 'lisp',
'args' => $args,
'kwargs' => $kwargs
);
$queryString = http_build_query($request);
echo $queryString;
More info: https://php.net/http_build_query