Form_validation errors into array

Question

I have a code for form validating in my CodeIgniter app:

$this->load->library('form_validation');

$this->form_validation->set_rules('message', 'Message', 'trim|xss_clean|required');
$this->form_validation->set_rules('email', 'Email', 'trim|valid_email|required');

if($this->form_validation->run() == FALSE)
{
    // some errors
}
else
{
    // do smth
    $response = array(
        'message' => "It works!"
    );
    echo json_encode($response);
}

The form is AJAX-based, so frontend have to receive a JSON array with form errors, for example:

array (
  'email' => 'Bad email!',
  'password' => '6 symbols only!',
)

How to get such list or array with form validation errors in CodeIgniter?

Interracial

possible duplicate of CodeIgniter Form Validation - Get the Result as "array" Instead of "string" – Eckert

Answer 1

You just echo validation_errors() from your controller.

have your javascript place it in your view.

PHP

// controller code
if ($this->form_validation->run() === TRUE)
{
    //save stuff
}
else
{
    echo validation_errors();
}

Javascript

// jquery
$.post(<?php site_url('controller/method')?>, function(data) {
  $('.errors').html(data);
});

If you really want to use JSON, jquery automatically parses JSON. You can loop through it and append into your html.

---

in case you need validation errors as array you can append this function to the form_helper.php

if (!function_exists('validation_errors_array')) {

   function validation_errors_array($prefix = '', $suffix = '') {
      if (FALSE === ($OBJ = & _get_validation_object())) {
        return '';
      }

      return $OBJ->error_array($prefix, $suffix);
   }
}

Deflate

Answer 2

application/libraries/MY_Form_validation.php

<?php
class MY_Form_validation extends CI_Form_validation
{
  function __construct($config = array())
  {
    parent::__construct($config);
  }

  function error_array()
  {
    if (count($this->_error_array) === 0)
      return FALSE;
    else
      return $this->_error_array;
  }
}

Then you could try the following from your controller:

$errors = $this->form_validation->error_array();

Reference: validation_errors as an array

Superimpose

It's a protected variable though so that won't work, therefor as your reference states - override form_validation and return it trough error_array() – Theosophy

$errors = $this->form_validation->error_array(); this works well – Tragic

fyi, the reference link is dead now (2nd august 2022) – Tayyebeb

Answer 3

If you prefer a library method, you can extend the Form_validation class instead.

class MY_Form_validation extends CI_Form_validation {

    public function error_array() {
        return $this->_error_array;
    }

}

and subsequently call it in your controller/method.

$errors = $this->form_validation->error_array();

Aldine

Answer 4

Using the latest version of codeigniter:

print_r($this->form_validation->error_array());

returns:

array("field"=>"message","field2"=>"message2");

Decipher

Answer 5

Simply use...

$errors = $this->form_validation->error_array();

Goglet

Answer 6

I've extended form validation helper:

if ( ! function_exists('validation_errors_array'))
{
    function validation_errors_array()
    {
        if (FALSE === ($OBJ =& _get_validation_object()))
        {
            return '';
        }
        // No errrors, validation passes!
        if (count($OBJ->_error_array) === 0)
        {
            return '';
        }
        // Generate the error string
        $array = '';
        foreach ($OBJ->_error_array as $key => $val)
        {
            if ($val != '')
            {
                $array[$key]= $val;
            }
        }
        return $array;
    }
}

Interracial

If you want to return json formated object: echo json_encode($array, JSON_FORCE_OBJECT); but you must have php 5.3. if your php < 5.3: echo json_encode($array); – Alec

Answer 7

from : http://darrenonthe.net/2011/05/10/get-codeigniter-form-validation-errors-as-an-array/

By default, the Codeigniter Form Validation errors are returned as a string:

return validation_errors();;

Hind

Answer 8

In CI 4 I found this inside the form_helper.php

if (! function_exists('validation_errors')) {
    /**
     * Returns the validation errors.
     *
     * First, checks the validation errors that are stored in the session.
     * To store the errors in the session, you need to use `withInput()` with `redirect()`.
     *
     * The returned array should be in the following format:
     *     [
     *         'field1' => 'error message',
     *         'field2' => 'error message',
     *     ]
     *
     * @return array<string, string>
     */
    function validation_errors()
    {
        session();

        // Check the session to see if any were
        // passed along from a redirect withErrors() request.
        if (isset($_SESSION['_ci_validation_errors']) && (ENVIRONMENT === 'testing' || ! is_cli())) {
            return $_SESSION['_ci_validation_errors'];
        }

        $validation = Services::validation();

        return $validation->getErrors();
    }
}

You can implement this on views like this

# Views/example.php
<?= helper('form'); ?>

<form>
    ...
    <?php foreach(validation_errors() as $field_name => $error_message): ?>
        <?= "$field_name = $error_message <br>" ?>
    <?php endforeach ?>
</form>

Doze

Answer 9

The solution I like best doesn't involve adding a function anywhere or extending the validation library:

$validator =& _get_validation_object();
$error_messages = $validator->_error_array;

Reference: http://thesimplesynthesis.com/post/how-to-get-form-validation-errors-as-an-array-in-codeigniter/

You should be able to call this at any point in your code. Also, it's worth noting there is a previous thread that discusses this as well.

Pelops

Newest CodeIgniter protects _error_array property. "PHP Fatal error: Cannot access protected property..." You could extend it (MY_Form_validation) and set a new public property/method to _error_array I suppose. But this solution no longer works. – Aldine

Yes it throws an error Cannot access protected property CI_Form_validation::$_error_array – Merca