Some $_POST arrays are sometimes empty when using PHP mail - php

Question

I'm having some problems in using php mail function to send a html form's data. The mail function is working fine and I have no problem receiving the email when the form is submitted, but sometimes I got empty arrays in my email.
The code looks like:
<?php
error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE);
$email = $_POST['email'];
//check if value is set:
if (isset($_POST['submit'])){
$everyoneToppingList = substr(implode(', ', $_POST['everyone_platter_topping']), 0);
$everyoneCondimentList = substr(implode(', ', $_POST['everyone_platter_condiment']), 0);
}; //end isset($_POST['submit']
$len = strlen($email);
if ($len > 0)
{
$email_body = "Full Name: $title $fullname\n".
"Topping? - $everyoneToppingList\n".
"Condiment? - $everyoneCondimentList\n\n";
$email_to = "example#gmail.com";
$email_from = $_POST['email']; // required
$URL= "order.php";
header ("Location: $URL");
// create email headers
$headers = "From: $email_from \r\n";
$headers .= "Reply-To: $email_from \r\n";
$headers .= "Cc: $email_from \r\n";
$headers .= "X-Mailer: PHP/". phpversion();
mail($email_to, $email_subject, $email_body, $headers);
} ?>
And the html part looks like:
<table style="vertical-align:top;" class="form platter bread" cellspacing="2">
<tr>
<span class="bold">
Choose Your Topping:
</span>
<span id="errorsDiv_everyone_platter_topping[]">
</span>
<td height="7" width="87" align="left" valign="middle">
<input type="checkbox" name="everyone_platter_topping[]" value="Lettuce" id="everyone_lettuce" />
<label for="everyone_lettuce">\
Lettuce
</label>
</td>
<td height="7" width="87" align="left" valign="middle">
<input type="checkbox" name="everyone_platter_topping[]" value="Tomatoes" id="everyone_tomatoes" />
<label for="everyone_tomatoes">
Tomatoes
</label>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
When I receive the email, sometimes it only shows "Topping? - , , , ," .
Really need help on this and any suggestions will be appreciated!!
Thank you!

Answer 1

I am sorry to write it over here, but comment section is not enough to mention the doubts regarding your question.
the elements in the form and the elements used in PHP code does not give clear picture of the question.
Also $URL= "order.php";
header ("Location: $URL"); does not make any sense, it will redirect and mail wont be sent anyways
If I make this subtle changes of
removing header code from the PHP code
adding the email input box and submit submit button in the html form
adding form outside the table with method POST
I simply got this code working by making above changes without any trouble.
I suggest you edit a question and ask again or do the suggested changes (of course with some tweaking from your side) and you will code be in working state.

Answer 2

First initialize your variables before using em.
$everyoneToppingList = null;
$everyoneCondimentList = null;
if (isset($_POST['submit'])){
$everyoneToppingList = substr(implode(', ', $_POST['everyone_platter_topping']), 0);
$everyoneCondimentList = substr(implode(', ', $_POST['everyone_platter_condiment']), 0);
};
$len = strlen($email);
if ($len > 0)
{
if (!is_null($everyoneToppingList) && !is_null($everyoneCondimentList))
{
// Send your mail.
}
}