How do I return a php session variable with AJAX?

Question

I have been through a ton of other posts and cannot figure out how to do this.

AJAX:

$.ajax({
   type: 'POST',
   url: 'getSessionVariable.php',
   contentType: 'application/json',
   dataType: 'json',
   success: function(data) {
     alert(data);
   },
   error:function(data){
      alert("error occured"); //===Show Error Message====
      alert(data); 
   }
});

PHP:

<?
   session_start();
   print_r(json_encode($_SESSION["Variable"]));
?>

This solution returns "error Occurred"

Second Ajax statement:

jQuery.ajax({
  type:'POST',
  url: 'getSessionVariable.php',
  contentType: 'json',
  success:function(data){ 
    alert("Sucess!");
    alert(data);
    },
  error:function(data){
    alert("error occured"); //===Show Error Message====
   // alert(data); 
}
});

The second AJAX solution runs successfully but returns the entire php page back, I am just looking for the session variable to be returned...

Possible duplicate, verify https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7064391/php-returning-json-to-jquery-ajax-call — Alfredo A., Oct 24 '18 at 19:08
@AlfredoA. That solution does not work, so I would not consider it a duplicate. — Christhemist, Oct 24 '18 at 19:41
Duplicate: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5121495/php-code-is-not-being-executed-instead-code-shows-on-the-page — Quentin, Oct 24 '18 at 20:13
@Quentin it was because of the short tag I was using. The link you gave is what led me to this conclusion, thank you! — Christhemist, Oct 24 '18 at 20:24

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 24 '18 at 20:22

0

It was because i was using a short tag. This oversight really hurt me this time, d'oh!

<?

and not

<?php

answered Oct 24 '18 at 20:22

Christhemist

19
5

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 24 '18 at 21:11

0

Make sure you are use the corrects tags <?php ?> opener

And for use of <?= ?> that replace <?php echo "myString"; ?> you have to change your short_open_tag in php ini settings.

From PHP documentation you have:

Version 7.0.0 The ASP tags <%, %>, <%=, and the script tag are removed from PHP.

-

5.4.0 The tag <?= is always available regardless of the short_open_tag ini setting.

Change in your code the <? for <?php and to send json_encode you must use an echo istead of print_r

    <?php
       session_start();
       echo json_encode($_SESSION["Variable"]);
    ?>

answered Oct 24 '18 at 21:11

Elvis Technologies

151
8

Did you read this whole thread? I came to that conclusion already, and posted it, about 40 minutes before your post. – Christhemist Oct 24 '18 at 21:35
oh! i see, i have this windows opened by a long period of time!! – Elvis Technologies Oct 24 '18 at 21:53
No worries! I appreciate your insight anyways :) – Christhemist Oct 24 '18 at 23:13

How do I return a php session variable with AJAX?

2 Answers2