Check form input length via PHP with maxlength tag

Question

My question is very simple: if I have some input fields with maxlength tag in a HTML form, I have to check input length via PHP too?

Answer 1

You should , because anyone can "duplicate" your form and use it. Server-side checks are better than client-side. (It's safe)

For instance , your form:

<form method='post' action='/pay.php'>
<input type='text' maxlength='10' name='addres'>
</form>

I can easily do something like this: (and upload it to some free server or something like that)

<form method='post' action='http://www.yourdomain.com/pay.php'>
<input type='text' name='addres'><!--no maxlength='10' for me-->
</form>

Now I'm kind of "over pass" your limitation.

However , you can edit your pay.php file:

$addres = clean_input($_POST['addres']); //A custom function to make sure it's a clean string
if(strlen($addres) > 100)
{
  //Something weird
}
else
{
  //We're good
}