Does PHP automatically convert numbers to strings?

Question

I am using dojo and ajax to send a time stamp to PHP, which does a database check, then returns the time stamp for debugging purposes. When I send this time stamp, it's a number, when it is returned, it is a string. Is there a specific reason for this? What should I do to avoid this (cast to int in PHP, fix via JSON, or cast to int in javascript)

Here is the Dojo code

dojo.xhrGet({
 url: 'database/validateEmail.php',
 handleAs: "json",
 content: {
 email : '[email protected]',
 time: 0
 },
 load: function(args) {/*SEE BELOW*/}
});

Here is the PHP script

<?php

/**
 ** connect to the MySQL database and store the return value in $con
 *
 */
$con = mysql_pconnect("localhost:port", "username", "password");

/**
 ** handle exceptions if we could not connect to the database
 *
 */
if (!$con) {
    die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}

/**
 ** Create table query
 *
 */
mysql_select_db("portal", $con);

/**
 ** Get user entered e-mail
 *
 */
$emailQuerry = mysql_num_rows(mysql_query("SELECT EMAIL FROM user WHERE EMAIL='" . $_GET["email"] . "'")) == 1;

/**
 ** Whether successful or not, we will be returning the time stampe (this is used to determine whether there were any changes between the time a request
 ** was sent, and when this response was returned.
 *
 */
 $result['time'] = $_GET["time"];

/**
 ** Currently only checks to see if the two values were provided. Later, will have to check against passwords
 *
 */
if ($emailQuerry) {
    $result['valid'] = true;
}
else {
    $result['valid'] = false;
}

echo json_encode($result);
?>

And finally the load function left blank above

load: function(args) {
 console.log(localArgs.time + ' v ' + args.time);
 console.log(localArgs.time === args.time);
 console.log(localArgs.time == args.time);
}

The output of which is

0 v 0
false
true

@Blender -- all the password info is still in the history ^_^ — Naftali
– Naftali, Commented Nov 1, 2011 at 14:23
You can replace this whole block: if ($emailQuerry) {... } with just $result['valid'] = $emailQuerry; — Blender
– Blender, Commented Nov 1, 2011 at 14:25
@Neal, better in the history than out in the open. Thanks for telling erryone ;) — Blender
– Blender, Commented Nov 1, 2011 at 14:26
That wasn't actually my password...it was my attempt at humor. — puk
– puk, Commented Nov 1, 2011 at 14:34

puk · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-02 06:43:21Z

3

json_encode encodes all variables as a string.

So the javascript will see it as a string.

So in the javascript you could use parseInt(...)

edited Nov 2, 2011 at 6:43

puk

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answered Nov 1, 2011 at 14:22

Naftali

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5 Comments

puk Over a year ago

Is json the best/preferred/accepted way carry out what I am doing right now? I would prefer to do things correctly from the beginning. Thanks

Naftali Over a year ago

@puk it is the perferred way for me (if that is enough for you ^_^)

Thai Over a year ago

json_encode does not encode all values as a string. Numbers, true, false, and null are all encoded correctly using json_encode. The actual cause is that all scalar $_GET parameters are string, so it should be converted to number there: $result['time'] = (float)$_GET["time"];

puk Over a year ago

@Thai, I'll just convert it client side then.

puk Over a year ago

@Neal I like your answer but I am coming under considerable heat for choosing it since some of your statements are inaccurate. Could you please mention JSON_NUMERIC_CHECK and change 'have to use' to 'could use'

Josh · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-01 14:24:03Z

2

You can use json_encode() to output your numbers from PHP (post-encode), with the JSON_NUMERIC_CHECK option.

answered Nov 1, 2011 at 14:24

Josh

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1 Comment

puk Over a year ago

This is good to know, however, GET returns a string always, so this approach does not apply here.

user542603 · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-01 15:08:48Z

1

To send an integer out as an integer is simple - provide json_encode with one! Put '(int)' around anything that you want converting.

Here's an example:

echo json_encode(array(1, 2, 3));

Output:

[1,2,3]

And another:

$a = '123';
echo json_encode(array($a, (int) $a));

Output:

["123",123]

answered Nov 1, 2011 at 15:08

user542603

2 Comments

puk Over a year ago

Your answer is also correct, but I'm going to go with Neal's b/c I think it's easier to do these calculations client side. If anyone believes that this must be done server side, I will consider changing the correct answer back over to muu.

user542603 Over a year ago

@puk: Neil's method is valid however he is wrong that it's the only way.

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