PHP - variable from GET is changing - php

Question

I have a svg.php file with some shapes.
<rect onclick="window.location='search.php?filter=1'" width="50" height="50">
<rect onclick="window.location='search.php?filter=2'" width="50" height="50">
Search.php
div class="container">
<textarea class="search" id="search_id"></textarea>
<div id="result"></div>
<?php include("svg.php"); ?>
</div>
//This is for a autocomplete search, took it from http://www.2my4edge.com/2013/08/autocomplete-search-using-php-mysql-and.html
<script type="text/javascript">
$(function(){
$(".search").keyup(function() {
var search_id = $(this).val();
var dataString = 'search='+ search_id;
if (search_id=='') {
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: "search_database.php",
data: dataString,
cache: false,
success: function(html) {
$("#result").html(html).hide(); }
});
};
if(search_id!='') {
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: "search_database.php",
data: dataString,
cache: false,
success: function(html) {
$("#result").html(html).show(); }
});
}return false;
});
jQuery("#result").live("click",function(e){
var $clicked = $(e.target);
var $name = $clicked.find('.name').html();
var decoded = $("<div/>").html($name).text();
$('#search_id').val(decoded);
});
jQuery(document).live("click", function(e) {
var $clicked = $(e.target);
if (! $clicked.hasClass("search")){
jQuery("#result").fadeOut();
}
});
$('#search_id').click(function(){
jQuery("#result").fadeIn();
});
});
</script>
Then a search_database.php
$search = isset($_GET['filter']) ? $_GET["filter"] : 1;
echo $search; //echos "2".
if ($search=="1") {
echo $search; //enters if, and it's not supposed to, and echos "1"
Select * from table;
}
Search_database.php
$search = isset($_GET['filter']) ? $_GET["filter"] : "1";
echo $search //echos "2";
if ($search=="1") {
$q = $_POST['search'];
$q_length = strlen($q);
$sql = <<<SQL
SELECT * FROM table
LIMIT 6
SQL;
if(!$result = $con->query($sql)){
die('There was an error running the query [' . $con->error . ']');
}
while($row = $result->fetch_array()) { ?>
<div class="show_search">
<?php echo $row['name'] ?> </a>
</div>
<?php } } ?>
I'm on search.php?filter=2 and the first echo is correct ("2") but for some reason it keeps entering the If Clause and echos that $search is "1".
I'm not defining the $search variable anywhere else. Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

Your code is a bit too complicated.
$search = isset($_GET['filter']) ? $_GET["filter"] : 1;
if($search == 1) {
echo $search;
}
Thats enough, you don't need the check if $_POST is available. That make not so much sense because you don't send a form and you don't have post data in that case when you it with window.location.

Answer 2

If there is no other code between following two lines:
echo $search; //echos "2".
AND
if ($_POST AND $search=="1") { ... }
Then, its not possible to go inside if condition. its only possible if your if condition is like if($_POST AND $search=1). Check that, whether you have single = or double == in comparing $search variable.
If there is some php code in between, then show us, whatever it is, so that we can help you.