mysql - PHP PDO is ruining my $_POST values? -

edit: edit of original code: (i changed if "if($_post['break'] != "")" test , doesnt work, neither of other varients i've tried.

if($_server['request_method'] != 'post') {     echo '<form method="post" action="">         category name: <input type="text" name="cat_name" />         category description: <textarea name="cat_description" /></textarea>         <input type="checkbox" value="break">is table break?<br>         <input type="submit" value="add category" />      </form>'; }   $sql= 'insert categories(cat_name, cat_description, isheader) values (:cat_name, :cat_description, :isheader)';          $stmt = $dbh->prepare($sql);           if($_post['break'] != ""){           $isbreak = true;           }           else{           $isbreak = false;           }                  $stmt->bindparam(':cat_name', $_post['cat_name']);          $stmt->bindparam(':cat_description', $_post['cat_description']);         $stmt->bindparam(':isheader', $isbreak);         try{            $stmt->execute();            header('location: /testpage.php');         }         catch(pdoexception $e){           $e->getmessage();         } 

the above code should insert database column "break" being set "true"(or 1) when checkbox checked. doesnt. i've tried following if statements , none fixed it:

if(isset($_post['break']) == 1) if(($_post['break']) == "break")  - ("break" being name of checkbox. if(($_post['break']) === "break")  if(($_post['break']) == 'break')  

now know code should work because before converted pdo php working. heres previous code looked like. 100% working how wanted to:

if(isset($_post['break']) == 1){    $isbreak = true; } else{     $isbreak = false; } $sql = "insert categories(cat_name, cat_description, isheader)            values('" . mysql_real_escape_string($_post['cat_name']) . "',                  '" . mysql_real_escape_string($_post['cat_description']) . "', ". $isbreak.")";   $result = mysql_query($sql);     if(!$result)     {         echo 'error' . mysql_error();     }     else     {         header('location: /testpage.php');     }; 

i know of $_post data works because database filled correct "cat_name" , "cat_description" pdo code. i've had problem every page on site converting it. i've managed find dumb little work around specific each page, cant figure 1 out. i'd rather know why acting way is.

what's more when print_r($_post) , check box checked returns value "break". dont understand it.

why use string values $isbreak. gets put sql statement string anyway doesnt matter.

yes, matter.

the string 'true' in integer context has value 0 in mysql. string-to-integer conversion happens implicitly takes leading digit characters string, , if there none, string has value zero.

whereas keyword true equal integer 1.

here's demo of conversion. i'm adding + 0 force values converted integers.

mysql> select 'true' + 0; +------------+ | 'true' + 0 | +------------+ |          0 | +------------+  mysql> select true + 0; +----------+ | true + 0 | +----------+ |        1 | +----------+ 

in old code, put true keyword insert statement, mysql server ended seeing following:

insert categories(cat_name, cat_description, isheader)     values('name', 'description', true) 

when true inserted integer column, value inserted 1.

but when passing strings parameters, sent strings, works similar* following:

insert categories(cat_name, cat_description, isheader)     values('name', 'description', 'true') 

when 'true' inserted integer column, value inserted 0.

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re comment:

it makes no difference if you're using pdo or non-pdo. if interpolate unquoted string sql statement, parsed keyword. if pass string parameter, it's similar interpolating quoted string sql statement, , therefore 'true' becomes 0 in integer context.

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i worked more thorough test script. guess got answer, html form problem, not sql problem. i'll post test script here anyway future reference.

<?php  $pdo = new pdo(..., array(pdo::attr_errmode=>pdo::errmode_exception)); $pdo->setattribute(pdo::attr_emulate_prepares, false);  $stmt = $pdo->prepare("insert foo (test, boolcol) values ('test 1: literal true', true)"); $stmt->execute();  $stmt = $pdo->prepare("insert foo (test, boolcol) values ('test 2: literal \'true\'', 'true')"); $stmt->execute();  $stmt = $pdo->prepare("insert foo (test, boolcol) values ('test 3: literal 1', 1)"); $stmt->execute();  $stmt = $pdo->prepare("insert foo (test, boolcol) values ('test 4: literal \'1\'', '1')"); $stmt->execute();  $stmt = $pdo->prepare("insert foo (test, boolcol) values ('test 5: param true', ?)"); $stmt->execute(array(true));  $stmt = $pdo->prepare("insert foo (test, boolcol) values ('test 6: param \'true\'', ?)"); $stmt->execute(array('true'));  $stmt = $pdo->prepare("insert foo (test, boolcol) values ('test 7: param 1', ?)"); $stmt->execute(array(1));  $stmt = $pdo->prepare("insert foo (test, boolcol) values ('test 8: param \'1\'', ?)"); $stmt->execute(array('1')); 

here's result:

+------------------------+---------+ | test                   | boolcol | +------------------------+---------+ | test 1: literal true   |       1 | | test 2: literal 'true' |       0 | | test 3: literal 1      |       1 | | test 4: literal '1'    |       1 | | test 5: param true     |       1 | | test 6: param 'true'   |       0 | | test 7: param 1        |       1 | | test 8: param '1'      |       1 | +------------------------+---------+ 

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* parameters never combined sql syntax, they're combined internal representation of query logic during execution, after sql has been parsed. that's why "similar."