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PHP Build a Basic PHP Website (2018) Enhancing a Form Escaping Output

John Gianniny
John Gianniny
13,012 Points
Posted by John Gianniny
John Gianniny
13,012 Points

How to employ Escape Output here...

I think I am way off on this one; please help.

views_listing_edit.php 
<?php require_once("controllers_listing.php"); ?><html>
<body>

    <h1>Edit Listing</h1>

    <form method="post">
        <table>
            <tr>
                <th>
                    <label for="name">Name</label>
                </th>
                <td>
                    <input id="name" name="name" value="<?php echo htmlspecialchars($_POST['$listing_name']); ?>">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <th>
                    <label for="link">Link</label>
                </th>
                <td>
                    <input id="link" name="link" value="<?php echo htmlspecialchars($_POST['$listing_link']); ?>">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <th>
                    <label for="description">Description</label>
                </th>
                <td>
                    <textarea id="description" name="description"><?php echo htmlspecialchars($_POST['$listing_description']); ?></textarea>
                </td>
            </tr>    
        </table>
        <input type="submit" value="Save">
    </form>

</body>
</html>

1 Answer

Connor Walker
Connor Walker
17,985 Points

You were mostly correct, the problem is that the variables you are escaping are coming from the required script at the top, not from the POST array

This:

<input id="name" name="name" value="<?php echo htmlspecialchars($_POST['$listing_name']); ?>">

Should become this:

<input id="name" name="name" value="<?php echo htmlspecialchars($listing_name); ?>">

once you've changed all 3 of these it should pass

John Gianniny
John Gianniny
13,012 Points
John Gianniny
John Gianniny
13,012 Points

Thank you Conner! The explanation is really helpful as well.