pass a PHP object to an ajax PHP script

Question

How can I pass a PHP object created during my initial page load, to an ajax call?

create-page.php creates my page and has an object expensiveObject. I need to pass expensiveObject to ajax-some-stuff.php.

Option 1: Should I json_encode() the object, attach it to my URL, grab that part of my URL with javascript, and send it back to a PHP ajax?

Option 2: Can I store it as a $_SESSION variable?

If it's a stdClass/anonymous object you can do either if it's a custom class object your better off storing it in a session, just make sure you require the file implementing the class prior to session start, or have an autoloader in play. — Orangepill
– Orangepill, Commented Jun 21, 2013 at 2:16
@MartyWallace - in my ajax script, I have some methods that I need the expensive object for $expensiveObject->someFunction(). — Don P
– Don P, Commented Jun 21, 2013 at 2:19
I see what you mean now. You don't intend to pass it to the script, you just need reference to it when the script is executed. — Marty
– Marty, Commented Jun 21, 2013 at 2:20
@Orangepill thanks - what is meant by a custom class vs a standard class? — Don P
– Don P, Commented Jun 21, 2013 at 2:21
stdClass object are anonymous objects create by some primative means by php, json_decode without true for the second argument is one of the most common culprits. It will have properties but won't have any methods defined. Custom classes are ones that have an actual class definition associated with them. If you wrote the class that is what I'm referring to as a custom class. — Orangepill
– Orangepill, Commented Jun 21, 2013 at 2:27

hek2mgl · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-21 02:19:43Z

1

I would save it in $_SESSION as this would prevent you from sending data trough internet which should be only processed on server. There would be security issues as well as performance issues.

You might need to implement __sleep() and __wakeup() depending on your object when saving it in $_SESSION

answered Jun 21, 2013 at 2:19

hek2mgl

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Orangepill Over a year ago

+1 good point about the wire performance and security issues when you send down to the client.

imkrisna · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-21 02:32:41Z

0

I would like go with Option 1 but after json_encode function i will wrap it again with base64_encode because the json_encode is still not URL-safe string.

The $_SESSION method is good and easy but it depends on your object. If i'm not mistaken, the $_SESSION has maximum size of data can be stored there. - if you're server side session your server memory will consumed - using cookie as session replacement will limit the data size

answered Jun 21, 2013 at 2:32

imkrisna

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Jorg Over a year ago

I thought URLs had similar size restrictions. Most browsers can only handle URLs up to rougly 2000 characters through GET and POST requests I think... Base64, json encoded string might become pretty long

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