php: Best way to validate integers and filter out invalid chars

Question

Possible Duplicate:
php validate integer

Currently I'm using this method:

Validate the input using isset($val) && is_numeric($val)
Cast it to int and passing it to the function: DoSomething((int)$val);

So my question is this: Is this the fastest and most practical way to do this? If I cast the value to int, is the int range enough for the maximum number of rows in the mysql database?

`filter_var($value, FILTER_VALIDATE_INT)` – Gordon Jan 31 '12 at 13:23 — Gordon, Jan 31 '12 at 13:23
And please ask only one question at once. – hakre Jan 31 '12 at 13:31 — hakre, Jan 31 '12 at 13:31

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 31 '12 at 13:20

3

PHP offers integrated basic filter & validation functions.

answered Jan 31 '12 at 13:20

breiti

1,145
9
17

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 31 '12 at 13:16

2

it seems the method is quite redundant.

either validate or cast - no need to do both.

And this is apparently not a place that needs to be "fastest".

answered Jan 31 '12 at 13:16

Your Common Sense

156,878
40
214
345

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 31 '12 at 13:38

a quick look at php manual page shoved that:

$foo = 5a;
settype($foo, "integer"); // $foo is now 5   (integer)

And: /* checks if a string is an integer with possible whitespace before and/or after, and also isolates the integer */

$isInt=preg_match('/^\s*([0-9]+)\s*$/', $myString, $myInt);

php: Best way to validate integers and filter out invalid chars

3 Answers3