In our previous, tutorial we explained how to create form using codeIgniter framework. Now, we will explain you to validate various form fields using codeIgniter framework.

In Controller file we have create a class named “validate_ctrl” where index() function initializes “form_validation” library :


function index()
{
//including validation library
$this->load->library('form_validation');
}

Also, using above library we set some validation rules for each fields.

To set validation rules we will use the set_rules() function :

$this->form_validation->set_rules();

which takes three parameters :

1. Actual field name (e.g. uname).

2. Name of the field used to identify it (e.g. Username).

3. Validation rules for the form field.

$this->form_validation->set_rules('uname', 'Username', 'required');

The third parameter can be set for multiple rules like this :

$this->form_validation->set_rules('uname', 'Username', 'required|min_length[4]|max_length[10]);

Here are some listing of the rules with their specification :


required // Returns FALSE if the form field is empty.

matches // Returns FALSE if the form field does not match the defined value of parameter.

is_unique // Returns FALSE if the form field is not unique to the table and field name in the parameter.

min_length // Returns FALSE if the form field is shorter than the parameter value.

max_length // Returns FALSE if the form field is longer than the parameter value.

exact_length // Returns FALSE if the form field is not exactly the parameter value.

greater_than // Returns FALSE if the form field is less than the parameter value or not numeric.

less_than // Returns FALSE if the form field is greater than the parameter value or not numeric.

alpha // Returns FALSE if the form field contains anything other than alphabetical characters.

alpha_numeric // Returns FALSE if the form field contains anything other than alpha-numeric characters.

alpha_dash // Returns FALSE if the field contains anything other than alpha-numeric characters, underscores or dashes.

numeric // Returns FALSE if the form field contains anything other than numeric characters.

integer // Returns FALSE if the form field contains anything other than an integer.

decimal // Returns FALSE if the form field contains anything other than a decimal number.

is_natural // Returns FALSE if the form field contains anything other than a natural number.

is_natural_no_zero // Returns FALSE if the form field contains anything other than a natural number, but not zero.

valid_email // Returns FALSE if the form field does not contain a valid email address.

valid_emails // Returns FALSE if any value provided in a comma separated list is not a valid email.

valid_ip // Returns FALSE if the supplied IP is not valid.

valid_base64 // Returns FALSE if the supplied string contains anything other than valid Base64 characters.

To learn more, go through our complete PHP code

or

download the validate_codeigniter_form.zip file from below link, extract files and include them in view and controller directory of your codeigniter framework as shown in the Read Me.txt file.

form validation using codeigniter

 

Download script   

VIEW FILE: valform.php

copy the below code in your view.


<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Validating Form Fields Using CodeIgniter</title>
<link href='http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Marcellus' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'>
<link href="http://localhost/CodeIgniter/css/styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
</head>
<body>
<div id="container">
<?php echo form_open('validate_ctrl'); ?>
<h1>Validating form fields using CodeIgniter</h1>
<?php echo form_label('Student Name :'); ?><?php echo form_error('dname'); ?>
<?php echo form_input(array('id' => 'dname', 'name' => 'dname')); ?>
<?php echo form_label('Student Email :'); ?> <?php echo form_error('demail'); ?>
<?php echo form_input(array('id' => 'demail', 'name' => 'demail')); ?>
<?php echo form_label('Student Mobile No. :'); ?> <?php echo form_error('dmobile'); ?>
<?php echo form_input(array('id' => 'dmobile', 'name' => 'dmobile','placeholder'=>'10 Digit Mobile No.')); ?>
<?php echo form_label('Student Address :'); ?> <?php echo form_error('daddress'); ?>
<?php echo form_input(array('id' => 'daddress', 'name' => 'daddress')); ?>
<?php echo form_submit(array('id' => 'submit', 'value' => 'Submit')); ?> <?php echo form_close(); ?>
</div>
</body>
</html>

CONTROLLER FILE: validate_ctrl.php

copy the below code in your controller.


<?php
class validate_ctrl extends CI_Controller {
function __construct() {
parent::__construct();
$this->load->model('form_model');
}
function index()
{
// Including Validation Library
$this->load->library('form_validation');
// Displaying Errors In Div
$this->form_validation->set_error_delimiters('<div class="error">', '</div>');
// Validation For Name Field
$this->form_validation->set_rules('dname', 'Username', 'required|min_length[5]|max_length[15]');
// Validation For Email Field
$this->form_validation->set_rules('demail', 'Email', 'required|valid_email');
// Validation For Contact Field
$this->form_validation->set_rules('dmobile', 'Contact No.', 'required|regex_match[/^[0-9]{10}$/]');
// Validation For Address Field
$this->form_validation->set_rules('daddress', 'Address', 'required|min_length[10]|max_length[50]');
if ($this->form_validation->run() == FALSE)
{
$this->load->view('valform');
}
else
{
$this->load->view('formsubmit');
}
}
}
?>

CSS FILE: styles.css

Styling HTML Elements.


#container {
width:960px;
height:610px;
margin:50px auto
}
.error {
color:red;
font-size:13px;
margin-bottom:-15px
}
form {
width:320px;
padding:0 50px 20px;
background:linear-gradient(#fff,#CBCE80);
border:1px solid #ccc;
box-shadow:0 0 5px;
font-family:'Marcellus',serif;
float:left;
margin-top:10px
}
h1 {
text-align:center;
font-size:28px
}
hr {
border:0;
border-bottom:1.5px solid #ccc;
margin-top:-10px;
margin-bottom:30px
}
label {
font-size:17px
}
input {
width:100%;
padding:10px;
margin:6px 0 20px;
border:none;
box-shadow:0 0 5px
}
input#submit {
margin-top:20px;
font-size:18px;
background:linear-gradient(#22abe9 5%,#36caf0 100%);
border:1px solid #0F799E;
color:#fff;
font-weight:700;
cursor:pointer;
text-shadow:0 1px 0 #13506D
}
input#submit:hover {
background:linear-gradient(#36caf0 5%,#22abe9 100%)
}

Pabbly Form Builder

Conclusion:

So, this was all about creating and validating a simple form using codeigniter framework. keep following us to learn more.

Related Posts:

How to Create a Contact Form In CodeIgniter