URL values with $_REQUEST in PHP

Question

If I am passing some parameters in the URL is it a bad practise to retrieve them using $_REQUEST super globa as opposed to $_GET super

Answer 1

Well, since you expect them to be coming in as GET variables only, why use $_REQUEST and not $_GET?

The problem with $_REQUEST is that if there are variables of GET, POST and/or COOKIE, one will override the other in that superglobal. It's semi-predictable what values you end up getting if you try to access $_REQUEST.

Answer 2

There are several issues with using $_REQUEST.

1. It can be confusing to your future self and other maintainers as to where the data is coming from.
2. It can cause collisions, and create hard-to-find bugs in which you are getting the wrong data (because $_REQUEST covers $_GET, $_POST, and $_COOKIE).

There may be others that I don't remember right now, too.

So yes, it's bad practice.