Place an Array in a PHP cookie

Question

I have a query that returns the accesses of the user who just logged in. I need to turn them into an array and store them in a session and a cookie. Follow code:

//ARMAZENA AS PERMISSOES DO PERFIL DO USUARIO
if($sql_permissoes->rowCount() > 0){
    $permissao_visualizacao = array();
    $permissao_alteracao        = array();
    foreach ($sql_permissoes as $sql_permissoes_row) {
        $permissao_visualizacao[]   = $sql_permissoes_row["url_localizacao"];
        $permissao_alteracao[]      = $sql_permissoes_row["permite_alteracao"];
    }
}

$_SESSION["ged.permissao.visualizacao"] = $permissao_visualizacao;
$_SESSION["ged.permissao.alteracao"]    = $permissao_alteracao;
setcookie("ged.permissao.visualizacao", $permissao_visualizacao, mktime(0, 0, 0, date("m"), date("d")+5, date("Y")) );
setcookie("ged.permissao.alteracao", $permissao_alteracao, mktime(0, 0, 0, date("m"), date("d")+5, date("Y")) );

But in the setcookie lines I get the following message:

Warning: setcookie() expects parameter 2 to be string, array given.

What is the most recommended method of doing this operation?

Answer 1

A good alternative is to serialize the array, that is, transform it into a string: http://php.net/manual/en/function.serialize.php

setcookie("ged.permissao.visualizacao", serialize($permissao_visualizacao), mktime(0, 0, 0, date("m"), date("d")+5, date("Y")) );
setcookie("ged.permissao.alteracao", serialize($permissao_alteracao), mktime(0, 0, 0, date("m"), date("d")+5, date("Y")) );

To read the cookie you must use the unserialize: http://php.net/manual/en/function.unserialize.php

$permissao_visualizacao = unserialize($_COOKIE['ged_permissao_visualizacao']);
$permissao_alteracao = unserialize($_COOKIE['ged_permissao_visualizacao']);

I hope I’ve helped.

Answer 2

As the error suggests, cookie data should be in string format. Most importantly, you should not store actual data in a cookie because the user can edit it.

$permissao_visualizacao = unserialize($_COOKIE['ged.permissao.visualizacao']);

session_start() should be called before anything is output on each page.

if the error persists try to use a third parameter in the set cookie setcookie('email', $first_email, time()+60*60*24*100);

Answer 3

If your cookie name has one dot, when using the setcookie, he will be transformed into underline.

In my example, how was storing the cookie ged.permissao.visualizacao, I recovered it as ged_permissao_visualizacao and it worked.

http://harrybailey.com/2009/04/dots-arent-allowed-in-php-cookie-names/

Thanks @Gebender for the help.