is_int, is_numeric, is_float, and HTML form validation

Question

A select field on my HTML form may yield 1 to 5 (integers). Using is_int rejects it every time, because the $_POST['rating'] is viewed as a string.

After consulting the PHP Manual, it seems is_numeric() && !is_float() is the proper way to validate for an integer in this case.

But I want to be certain, so please confirm or fire away at my logic.

Answer 1

I would probably use something like this:

$value = filter_var(
  $_POST['rating'], 
  FILTER_VALIDATE_INT, 
  array('options' => array('min_range' => 1, 'max_range' => 5))); 

filter_var() will return either boolean false if the value is non-integer or out-of-range, or the valid value itself (as an integer.)