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PHP Manual

# http_build_query

(PHP 5)

http_build_query — Generate URL-encoded query string

### Description

string http_build_query ( array `$formdata` [, string `$numeric_prefix` [, string `$arg_separator` ]] )

Generates a URL-encoded query string from the associative (or indexed) array provided.

### Parameters

`formdata`

  May be an array or object containing properties.

  The array form may be a simple one-dimensional structure, or an array of arrays (who in turn may contain other arrays).

`numeric_prefix`

  If numeric indices are used in the base array and this parameter is provided, it will be prepended to the numeric index for elements in the base array only.

  This is meant to allow for legal variable names when the data is decoded by PHP or another CGI application later on.

`arg_separator`

  arg_separator.output is used to separate arguments, unless this parameter is specified, and is then used.

### Return Values

Returns a URL-encoded string.

### Changelog

Version | Description
--- | ---
5.1.2 | The `arg_separator` parameter was added.
5.1.3 | Square brackets are escaped.

### Examples

Example #1 Simple usage of http_build_query()

`<?php
$data = array('foo'=>'bar',
'baz'=>'boom',
'cow'=>'milk',
'php'=>'hypertext processor');
echo http_build_query($data); // foo=bar&baz=boom&cow=milk&php=hypertext+processor
echo http_build_query($data, '', '&amp;'); // foo=bar&amp;baz=boom&amp;cow=milk&amp;php=hypertext+processor
?>`

Example #2 http_build_query() with numerically index elements.

`<?php
$data = array('foo', 'bar', 'baz', 'boom', 'cow' => 'milk', 'php' =>'hypertext processor');
echo http_build_query($data) . "\n";
echo http_build_query($data, 'myvar_');
?>`

The above example will output:

    0=foo&1=bar&2=baz&3=boom&cow=milk&php=hypertext+processor
    myvar_0=foo&myvar_1=bar&myvar_2=baz&myvar_3=boom&cow=milk&php=hypertext+processor

Example #3 http_build_query() with complex arrays

`<?php
$data = array('user'=>array('name'=>'Bob Smith',
'age'=>47,
'sex'=>'M',
'dob'=>'5/12/1956'),
'pastimes'=>array('golf', 'opera', 'poker', 'rap'),
'children'=>array('bobby'=>array('age'=>12,
'sex'=>'M'),
'sally'=>array('age'=>8,
'sex'=>'F')),
'CEO');
echo http_build_query($data, 'flags_');
?>`

this will output : (word wrapped for readability)

    user%5Bname%5D=Bob+Smith&user%5Bage%5D=47&user%5Bsex%5D=M&
    user%5Bdob%5D=5%2F12%2F1956&pastimes%5B0%5D=golf&pastimes%5B1%5D=opera&
    pastimes%5B2%5D=poker&pastimes%5B3%5D=rap&children%5Bbobby%5D%5Bage%5D=12&
    children%5Bbobby%5D%5Bsex%5D=M&children%5Bsally%5D%5Bage%5D=8&
    children%5Bsally%5D%5Bsex%5D=F&flags_0=CEO

> Note: Only the numerically indexed element in the base array "CEO" received a prefix. The other numeric indices, found under pastimes, do not require a string prefix to be legal variable names.

Example #4 Using http_build_query() with an object

`<?php
class myClass {
var $foo;
var $baz;
function myClass() {
$this->foo = 'bar';
$this->baz = 'boom';
}
}
$data = new myClass();
echo http_build_query($data); // foo=bar&baz=boom
?>`

### See Also

- parse_str() - Parses the string into variables
- parse_url() - Parse a URL and return its components
- urlencode() - URL-encodes string
- array_walk() - Apply a user function to every member of an array

get_meta_tags
parse_url
URL Functions
PHP Manual