filter_input

Gets a specific external variable by name and optionally filters it

&reftitle.description; `mixed` `filter_input` `int` `type` `string` `var_name` `int` `filter` `FILTER_DEFAULT` ``array``int```options` 0
&reftitle.parameters;

`type`

- One of `INPUT_GET`, `INPUT_POST`, `INPUT_COOKIE`, `INPUT_SERVER`, or `INPUT_ENV`.

`var_name`

- Name of a variable to get.

&filter.param.filter;

`options`

- Associative array of options or bitwise disjunction of flags. If filter accepts options, flags can be provided in "flags" field of array.

&reftitle.returnvalues;

Value of the requested variable on success, &false; if the filter fails, or &null; if the `var_name` variable is not set. If the flag `FILTER_NULL_ON_FAILURE` is used, it returns &false; if the variable is not set and &null; if the filter fails.

&reftitle.examples;

### A `filter_input` example

    <?php
    $search_html = filter_input(INPUT_GET, 'search', FILTER_SANITIZE_SPECIAL_CHARS);
    $search_url = filter_input(INPUT_GET, 'search', FILTER_SANITIZE_ENCODED);
    echo "You have searched for $search_html.\n";
    echo "<a href='?search=$search_url'>Search again.</a>";
    ?>

&example.outputs.similar;

    You have searched for Me &#38; son.
    <a href='?search=Me%20%26%20son'>Search again.</a>

&reftitle.seealso;

- `filter_var`
- `filter_input_array`
- `filter_var_array`
- filter.filters