Form_validation errors into array

Question

I have a code for form validating in my CodeIgniter app:

$this->load->library('form_validation');

$this->form_validation->set_rules('message', 'Message', 'trim|xss_clean|required');
$this->form_validation->set_rules('email', 'Email', 'trim|valid_email|required');

if($this->form_validation->run() == FALSE)
{
    // some errors
}
else
{
    // do smth
    $response = array(
        'message' => "It works!"
    );
    echo json_encode($response);
}

The form is AJAX-based, so frontend have to receive a JSON array with form errors, for example:

array (
  'email' => 'Bad email!',
  'password' => '6 symbols only!',
)

How to get such list or array with form validation errors in CodeIgniter?

possible duplicate of CodeIgniter Form Validation - Get the Result as "array" Instead of "string" — Peter O.
– Peter O., Commented Dec 16, 2012 at 14:32

rybo111 · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-05 17:56:31Z

34

application/libraries/MY_Form_validation.php

<?php
class MY_Form_validation extends CI_Form_validation
{
  function __construct($config = array())
  {
    parent::__construct($config);
  }

  function error_array()
  {
    if (count($this->_error_array) === 0)
      return FALSE;
    else
      return $this->_error_array;
  }
}

Then you could try the following from your controller:

$errors = $this->form_validation->error_array();

Reference: validation_errors as an array

edited Jun 5, 2014 at 17:56

rybo111

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answered Dec 17, 2011 at 4:20

masu.mo

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3 Comments

Jonathan Over a year ago

It's a protected variable though so that won't work, therefor as your reference states - override form_validation and return it trough error_array()

Harshan Morawaka Over a year ago

$errors = $this->form_validation->error_array(); this works well

dapidmini Over a year ago

fyi, the reference link is dead now (2nd august 2022)

Muhammad El-Saeed · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-02 21:35:38Z

You just echo validation_errors() from your controller.

have your javascript place it in your view.

PHP

// controller code
if ($this->form_validation->run() === TRUE)
{
    //save stuff
}
else
{
    echo validation_errors();
}

Javascript

// jquery
$.post(<?php site_url('controller/method')?>, function(data) {
  $('.errors').html(data);
});

If you really want to use JSON, jquery automatically parses JSON. You can loop through it and append into your html.

in case you need validation errors as array you can append this function to the form_helper.php

if (!function_exists('validation_errors_array')) {

   function validation_errors_array($prefix = '', $suffix = '') {
      if (FALSE === ($OBJ = & _get_validation_object())) {
        return '';
      }

      return $OBJ->error_array($prefix, $suffix);
   }
}

Bretticus · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-30 18:55:53Z

19

If you prefer a library method, you can extend the Form_validation class instead.

class MY_Form_validation extends CI_Form_validation {

    public function error_array() {
        return $this->_error_array;
    }

}

and subsequently call it in your controller/method.

$errors = $this->form_validation->error_array();

answered Apr 30, 2013 at 18:55

Bretticus

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Comments

Nick is tired · Accepted Answer · 2017-06-08 16:13:49Z

12

Using the latest version of codeigniter:

print_r($this->form_validation->error_array());

returns:

array("field"=>"message","field2"=>"message2");

edited Jun 8, 2017 at 16:13

Nick is tired

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answered Jun 1, 2017 at 6:23

Bhale Dino

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Comments

Samnad Sainulabdeen · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-25 09:09:39Z

5

Simply use...

$errors = $this->form_validation->error_array();

answered Sep 25, 2017 at 9:09

Samnad Sainulabdeen

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Comments

Kir · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-13 19:07:18Z

1

I've extended form validation helper:

if ( ! function_exists('validation_errors_array'))
{
    function validation_errors_array()
    {
        if (FALSE === ($OBJ =& _get_validation_object()))
        {
            return '';
        }
        // No errrors, validation passes!
        if (count($OBJ->_error_array) === 0)
        {
            return '';
        }
        // Generate the error string
        $array = '';
        foreach ($OBJ->_error_array as $key => $val)
        {
            if ($val != '')
            {
                $array[$key]= $val;
            }
        }
        return $array;
    }
}

answered Jan 13, 2011 at 19:07

Kir

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1 Comment

Diablo Over a year ago

If you want to return json formated object: echo json_encode($array, JSON_FORCE_OBJECT); but you must have php 5.3. if your php < 5.3: echo json_encode($array);

Ademus · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-02 22:04:59Z

1

from : http://darrenonthe.net/2011/05/10/get-codeigniter-form-validation-errors-as-an-array/

By default, the Codeigniter Form Validation errors are returned as a string:

return validation_errors();;

answered Oct 2, 2013 at 22:04

Ademus

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Comments

Jericho Aquino · Accepted Answer · 2023-03-01 09:22:19Z

In CI 4 I found this inside the form_helper.php

if (! function_exists('validation_errors')) {
    /**
     * Returns the validation errors.
     *
     * First, checks the validation errors that are stored in the session.
     * To store the errors in the session, you need to use `withInput()` with `redirect()`.
     *
     * The returned array should be in the following format:
     *     [
     *         'field1' => 'error message',
     *         'field2' => 'error message',
     *     ]
     *
     * @return array<string, string>
     */
    function validation_errors()
    {
        session();

        // Check the session to see if any were
        // passed along from a redirect withErrors() request.
        if (isset($_SESSION['_ci_validation_errors']) && (ENVIRONMENT === 'testing' || ! is_cli())) {
            return $_SESSION['_ci_validation_errors'];
        }

        $validation = Services::validation();

        return $validation->getErrors();
    }
}

You can implement this on views like this

# Views/example.php
<?= helper('form'); ?>

<form>
    ...
    <?php foreach(validation_errors() as $field_name => $error_message): ?>
        <?= "$field_name = $error_message <br>" ?>
    <?php endforeach ?>
</form>

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:02:27Z

-1

The solution I like best doesn't involve adding a function anywhere or extending the validation library:

$validator =& _get_validation_object();
$error_messages = $validator->_error_array;

Reference: http://thesimplesynthesis.com/post/how-to-get-form-validation-errors-as-an-array-in-codeigniter/

You should be able to call this at any point in your code. Also, it's worth noting there is a previous thread that discusses this as well.

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:02

CommunityBot

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answered Mar 21, 2013 at 14:30

josephdpurcell

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2 Comments

Bretticus Over a year ago

Newest CodeIgniter protects _error_array property. "PHP Fatal error: Cannot access protected property..." You could extend it (MY_Form_validation) and set a new public property/method to _error_array I suppose. But this solution no longer works.

Lonare Over a year ago

Yes it throws an error Cannot access protected property CI_Form_validation::$_error_array

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