array keys encoded when using http_build_query()

Question

Encoding an array to a URL using http_build_query() produces strange behaviour when an array key is also a html-char code.

For example:

return http_build_query([
   'id' = > ['my', 'data', 'here'], // no problem
   'class' = > ['my', 'data', 'here'], // no problem
   'yen' = > ['my', 'data', 'here'], // ¥ html car is &yen;
   'parameter' = > ['my', 'data', 'here'], // ¶ html char is &para;
]);

and the encoded result is:

id[0]=my&id[1]=data&id[2]=here&class[0]=my&class[1]=data&class[2]=here¥[0]=my¥[1]=data¥[2]=here¶meter[0]=my¶meter[1]=data¶meter[2]=here

whats going on here, it cant be possible that i cannot use the word parameter as an array key.

its what you see in your browser, check out the view source — Kevin
– Kevin, Commented Jun 17, 2015 at 6:02
I don't understand how your code could produce such output. Please post actual code — Phil
– Phil, Commented Jun 17, 2015 at 6:03
when you want to debug in a browser, always make sure to htmlspecialchars() your output. — Ja͢ck
– Ja͢ck, Commented Jun 17, 2015 at 6:18

Drakes · Accepted Answer · 2015-06-17 06:10:49Z

1

If you view the source of HTML output, you will see

id%5B0%5D=my&id%5B1%5D=data&id%5B2%5D=here&class%5B0%5D=my&class%5B1%5D=data&class%5B2%5D=here&yen%5B0%5D=my&yen%5B1%5D=data&yen%5B2%5D=here&parameter%5B0%5D=my&parameter%5B1%5D=data&parameter%5B2%5D=here

Which is correct. While displaying only, the browser will interpret malformed entities like &yen as ¥. There is nothing to worry about on the server side.

HTML entities reference

Demo: IDEOne

edited Jun 17, 2015 at 6:10

answered Jun 17, 2015 at 6:05

Drakes

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1 Comment

Drakes Over a year ago

No, no. Don't. Sometimes this causes other issues. It was a valid question. For example, we wouldn't expect &parameter to be interpreted as ¶ which is ¶. Browser being overly helpful.

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