$_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] evaluates to to 'GET' by default

Question

Been doing a bit of digging about this, but, no luck finding information

I'm trying to check whether a form has been submitted and if it is either GET or POST. So essentially I use:

if($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'GET')

or

if($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST')

However, I find that if I don't submit any form, and just go to the page directly - a simple HTTP Request, the REQUEST_METHOD is GET. What gives? Is this by design? If so then I can't use the former statement to check whether a form has been submitted via GET. Seems a bit redundant...

Someone with a bit more knowledge please explain this to me, that would be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Basically most HTTP requests are GET requests.

you can use if($_POST) to check if it's a POST. (That's the array with POST data in it. All pages have $_GET set, so if($_GET) won't work to tell if it's a GET)

However, if(count($_GET)>0) will tell you if there is $_GET data.

You can have both POST and GET data though, by sending a POST request to a URL with GET data in it (i.e. http://example.unreal?GetData=4&OtherData=no)