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Why is PHP echoing post with string count?

Posted on March 7, 2016

For some reason when I use the POST method for a from lets says the value to name is Bob. When it echos the $_POST['name'] is says string(3) “Bob” rather then just printing Bob. Even if I do a var dump it still shows up the same way.



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The post method for the PHP echoing is as below -

<?php
   if( $_POST["name"] || $_POST["age"] ) {
      if (preg_match("/[^A-Za-z'-]/",$_POST['name'] )) {
         die ("invalid name and name should be alpha");
      }
      echo "Welcome ". $_POST['name']. "<br />";
      echo "You are ". $_POST['age']. " years old.";
      
      exit();
   }
?>
<html>
   <body>
   
      <form action = "<?php $_PHP_SELF ?>" method = "POST">
         Name: <input type = "text" name = "name" />
         Age: <input type = "text" name = "age" />
         <input type = "submit" />
      </form>
   
   </body>
</html>

The output will be Name: Age: Submit (tab)

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